Ukraine Establishes 'Long-Range Impact' Command to Systematize Strikes on Russia

Ukraine is establishing a new 'long-range impact' command within its armed forces to intensify strikes deep inside Russian territory, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced. The move formalizes Kyiv's ongoing campaign targeting Russian energy and logistics infrastructure, which has already forced Moscow to curb fuel exports and restrict maritime traffic.

A New Strategic Focus

President Zelenskiy said in an evening address that he signed a decree to create the special command, which is aimed at having a "long-range and, in effect, global impact on Russia."

According to the president, the new unit's objective is to focus 100% of its available resources on "further reducing Russia’s capacity to wage war." This follows months of Ukrainian drone attacks on key Russian economic assets, which Kyiv has described as a form of long-range sanctions against the primary source of funding for Moscow's war effort.

Economic Impact on Russia

The campaign has had a measurable effect on the Russian economy. Citing a fuel crisis in occupied Crimea and shortages elsewhere, Moscow banned diesel exports on Wednesday. The strikes have also had a direct impact on fuel production.

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According to industry sources and Reuters calculations, the attacks have reduced Russia's domestic gasoline output to around 65% of its capacity. In a further blow to its commodity exports, Russia temporarily halted shipping through a channel connecting the Don River to the Sea of Azov. Grain industry sources cited by Reuters said the decision could affect nearly one-quarter of Russian wheat exports from the area.

Recent Strikes and Context

Recent Ukrainian operations have been frequent. Ukraine's general staff reported strikes on Friday against the Ilsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region and the Ust-Luga oil complex in the Leningrad region. An oil terminal and depot in the Rostov region were also hit.

Separately, Robert Brovdi, Ukraine’s drone forces commander, stated that 10 tankers in the Sea of Azov were among nearly 50 fuel vessels damaged over the last five days. While these successful strikes represent a significant shift from the early stages of the war, military experts caution that it is too early to determine if Ukraine has turned the tide of the conflict, as it remains vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile attacks.