Ukraine Unleashes Drone War, Strikes Deep Inside Russia as Winter Siege on Cities Intensifies

Ukraine Unleashes Drone War, Strikes Deep Inside Russia as Winter Siege on Cities Intensifies Ukraine is dramatically escalating its long-range strike campaign against Russian military infrastructure while its civilians endure a brutal winter siege targeting heat and power, according to multiple reports from the front lines and official statements. In a significant shift, Ukrainian forces are now using drones and missiles to hit high-value targets hundreds of kilometers inside Russia and occupied Crimea. In one coordinated blow, a major fuel depot in Penza, Russia—roughly 600 kilometers from the border—was struck and set ablaze [58417]. Simultaneously, Ukrainian military intelligence confirmed the destruction of a critical "Podlyot" radar station in Crimea, a system vital for Russian air defense [58417]. These attacks are designed to cripple Russia's war logistics and blind its surveillance networks. This offensive push coincides with a massive expansion of Ukraine's domestic drone production. The country aims to manufacture an unprecedented 7 million drones in 2026, a figure 70 times higher than the total number of unmanned aerial vehicles the United States has ever produced [59428]. Military analysts confirm that drones have fundamentally changed the nature of the war, allowing for year-round fighting regardless of frozen or muddy ground conditions that traditionally halted offensives [59102]. "The battlefield is now transparent. Drones see everything. This means fighting no longer stops for the weather," explained one security expert [59102]. While Ukrainian forces strike deeper, its cities are under a sustained Russian assault on energy infrastructure. A deliberate campaign of missile and drone attacks has crippled the national power grid, causing prolonged blackouts during sub-zero temperatures [58553][59652]. In parts of the capital, Kyiv, some residents have been without power for over 16 days, with over 1,300 apartment buildings left without heating in freezing conditions [58750][58548]. Civilians are turning to social media to share survival "life hacks," exchanging tips on building improvised heaters and insulating windows to endure the cold [59652]. The situation has drawn comparisons to historical sieges, with reports highlighting the use of winter as a weapon to break civilian morale [59470]. Diplomatic efforts continue but face major obstacles. The Kremlin has stated that Ukraine must surrender the entire Donbas region as a core condition for peace, a demand Kyiv has consistently rejected [58955]. Recent talks involving U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian representatives were described as "constructive" by a Kremlin official, but major differences remain, with no deal in sight [59237][58750]. Amid the fighting, Ukraine received a vote of financial confidence as a major credit rating agency upgraded its debt outlook from "negative" to "stable," citing international support and a debt payment freeze by creditors [59117]. 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 "Russia Targets Ukraine's Power Grid in Winter" Ukraine's Winter War: Citizens Share Survival Hacks Online US-Ukraine Security Pact "100% Ready" for Signing, Zelenskyy Says Moscow Demands Ukraine Cede Donbas to End War Ukraine's Credit Rating Improves Despite Ongoing War