Ukraine Forms 'Long-Range Impact' Command to Intensify Strikes on Russian Economy

Ukraine is establishing a new "long-range impact" command within its armed forces to formalize and step up its campaign of drone attacks against Russian energy and logistics infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced. The move signals a strategic commitment to a campaign that is already exerting significant pressure on the Russian economy.

In a national address, Zelenskiy stated he signed a decree to create the special command, which he said is "aimed at a long-range and, in effect, global impact on Russia in response to this war." He added that the new unit "must focus 100% of available resources on further reducing Russia’s capacity to wage war."

Economic Pressure Mounts on Moscow

Ukraine's persistent strikes on Russian territory are having a measurable economic impact, particularly on the country's crucial energy sector and export logistics. According to a Reuters report, the campaign has contributed to several significant disruptions:

• Fuel Shortages: Russia banned diesel exports on Wednesday to secure its domestic supply amid a fuel crisis in occupied Crimea and shortages in other regions.
• Refinery Output: Domestic gasoline production has fallen to approximately 65% of capacity as a result of the strikes, according to industry sources and Reuters calculations.
• Shipping Disrupted: Russia temporarily halted shipping through a key channel linking the Don River with the Sea of Azov. Experts cited by Reuters say the decision could affect nearly one-quarter of Russian wheat exports in the area.
• Targeted Attacks: Recent strikes have hit major facilities, including the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar and the Ust-Luga oil complex in the Leningrad region, according to Ukraine’s general staff.

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Strategic Shift in the Conflict

The creation of the new command institutionalizes a strategy that Kyiv has pursued for months, viewing the drone attacks as a form of "long-range sanctions" against Russia's primary source of state revenue. Robert Brovdi, Ukraine’s drone forces commander, said that in the last five days, nearly 50 fuel vessels have been damaged, including 10 tankers in the Sea of Azov, shrinking Moscow's "shadow fleet."

This marks a significant evolution from the early stages of the war, which were characterized by attritional ground combat. However, while the strikes demonstrate Ukraine's growing capabilities, experts cited in the report caution that it is too early to determine if the tide of the conflict has turned. Ukraine remains vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile attacks, which Zelenskiy has called Moscow’s last major advantage.