Ukraine Ramps Up Drone War, Strikes Deep Inside Russia as Winter Fighting Intensifies

Ukraine Ramps Up Drone War, Strikes Deep Inside Russia as Winter Fighting Intensifies Ukraine is dramatically escalating its production and use of drones while launching long-range strikes on Russian energy and military targets, transforming the nature of the winter war and defying seasonal combat norms. Ukrainian officials announced an unprecedented goal to manufacture 7 million drones in 2026, a target 70 times higher than the total number of drones the United States has ever made [59428]. This signals a massive shift toward industrialized warfare, moving beyond small workshops to state-coordinated mass production to supply frontline units [59428]. The push comes as unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, have fundamentally changed battlefield dynamics. Military analysts report that drones now allow fighting to continue at high intensity through the winter, breaking the traditional seasonal pause caused by mud and frozen ground [59102]. "The battlefield is now transparent. Drones see everything. This means fighting no longer stops for the weather," one security expert explained [59102]. Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces are demonstrating an increased ability to strike valuable targets far behind Russian lines. In a coordinated attack, Ukraine hit a fuel depot in Penza, Russia, approximately 600 kilometers from the front, which supplies Russian occupation forces [58417]. On the same day, forces struck and destroyed a critical "Podlyot" radar station in occupied Crimea, a system vital for Russian air defense [58417]. These precision strikes are part of a campaign to weaken Russia's war logistics. Ukraine also confirmed a strike on the Slavyansk Eco oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region, a facility that supplies fuel for Moscow's military operations [59115]. Russian officials claimed the refinery fire was caused by falling debris from intercepted drones [59115]. Meanwhile, Russian forces are intensifying attacks on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure, creating a humanitarian crisis during winter. Experts describe the sustained bombardment of power plants and electrical systems as an "energy war" aimed at breaking civilian morale [58553]. In parts of Kyiv, some residents have endured blackouts for over 16 days, with temperatures inside apartments dropping to freezing levels [58548]. Despite the ongoing combat, a major security agreement between the United States and Ukraine is finalized and "100% ready" for signing, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy [58557][58750]. The deal, which would provide long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, awaits only the scheduling of a signing ceremony [58426]. Ukraine Plans to Build More Drones in One Year Than U.S. Has Ever Made Drones, Not Mud, Now Dictate Ukraine's Winter War Ukraine Strikes Deep: Russian Fuel and Radar Hit in Coordinated Blows Ukraine Strikes Key Russian Oil Refinery, Moscow Blames "Debris" Russia Targets Ukraine's Power Grid in Winter Kyiv Endures 16-Day Blackout as Peace Talks Continue U.S.-Ukraine Security Deal "100% Ready," Says Zelensky US-Ukraine Security Deal "100% Ready," Awaiting Signature