Camilla Jessen
Ukraine sets a new and impressive record.
Ukraine has officially set a world record: the longest one-way drone strike ever confirmed in combat.
The target was a strategic Russian radar installation, and the drone traveled more than 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) to get there.
A New Milestone in Drone Warfare
Barely three years ago, the country had no drone industry to speak of.
Today, it ranks among the global leaders in long-range UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology, and the country is producing hundreds of strike drones every month.
Target: Strategic Russian Radar Station
The historic drone strike hit a “Voronezh-M” over-the-horizon radar station near Orsk, deep inside Russia’s Orenburg region.
The radar station is part of Russia’s strategic missile warning system.
Though Orsk is about 1,800 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, the drone likely launched from even farther west, given that attacks usually begin from secure territory well behind the front lines.
The drone’s long-range capabilities allowed it to bypass multiple layers of Russian air defenses.
Why Long-Range Drones Matter
Long-range drones have become a central part of Ukraine’s strategy to offset the limited supply of long-range Western missiles.
Systems like Storm Shadow, SCALP, and ATACMS are powerful but scarce. Ukraine has not yet received German TAURUS missiles or extended-range JASSMs.
That leaves long-range drones as Ukraine’s most flexible tool for deep strikes on oil refineries, ammunition depots, military factories, airbases and drone launch sites.
In 2025 alone, Ukrainian drones have hit dozens of oil facilities located 800–1,000 kilometers from the front line. The attacks became so frequent that some refinery managers reportedly began buying private air defense systems.
Operation Spiderweb
Ukraine has ramped up its drone campaign through a coordinated effort known as Operation Spiderweb.
According to United24 Media, the goal is to stretch Russian air defenses and hit key infrastructure simultaneously across wide areas.
Expansion of Drone Reach
The successful 1,800 km strike is part of that strategy—and it may soon be surpassed.
Ukrainian officials have announced plans to develop drones with a 3,000 km range, which could target even the most remote Russian military bases, including strategic bomber airfields.
In parallel, Ukraine is working on homegrown ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 1,000 kilometers to complement its drone strikes.
How Does Ukraine Compare Globally?
Several other countries possess long-range drone technology, but none have matched Ukraine’s confirmed operational range in a real strike:
Iran’s Shahed drones, widely used by Russia, can theoretically fly up to 2,500 km. But they’re typically launched from within 200–300 km of their targets and used against civilians, not high-value military assets.
U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones have a 1,900 km operational range—but they’re designed to return to base and carry reusable weapons, not operate as expendable strike platforms.
Drones vs Missiles: Trade-Offs and Strategy
Long-range drones are slower, less stealthy, and carry smaller warheads than cruise or ballistic missiles. But they’re cheaper, easier to produce, and far more scalable.
While missiles might be used sparingly, Ukraine can deploy hundreds of drones each month—hitting strategic targets regularly, often at lower cost and risk.
Ukraine’s Record of Long-Range Firsts
This isn’t Ukraine’s only entry in the record books. It now holds several global military records, including:
- Longest sniper kill
- Longest confirmed artillery strike in active combat
- Longest one-way drone strike
- Longest sustained battle of the 21st century (Battle of Bakhmut)
- Longest-range tank kill (using a British Challenger 2)
