Ukraine Unleashes Drone Blitz, Strikes Deep Into Russia as Winter War Intensifies

Ukraine Unleashes Drone Blitz, Strikes Deep Into Russia as Winter War Intensifies Ukraine is dramatically escalating its long-range strike campaign, hitting critical Russian military infrastructure hundreds of kilometers behind the front lines, while racing to build an unprecedented fleet of drones to break the battlefield stalemate. In a coordinated blow, Ukrainian forces struck a major fuel depot in Penza, Russia—approximately 600 kilometers from the border—and destroyed a key "Podlyot" radar station in occupied Crimea [58417]. The radar is vital for Russian air defense, and the fuel depot supplies occupation forces, marking a strategic effort to cripple logistics and blind enemy airspace monitoring [58417]. This deep-strike capability was further demonstrated by an attack on the Slavyansk Eco oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region, a facility Kyiv says fuels Moscow's war machine [59115]. While Russian officials blamed "falling debris," the strike is part of a sustained campaign against energy targets supporting the invasion [59115]. The intensified strikes come as Ukraine announces a staggering plan to produce 7 million drones in 2026, a figure 70 times higher than the total number of drones ever manufactured by the United States [59428]. This industrial-scale target underscores a fundamental shift in the conflict, where unmanned aerial vehicles now dictate the pace of battle year-round [59102]. "Drones see everything. This means fighting no longer stops for the weather," explained one security expert, noting that the traditional winter slowdown has been erased by persistent drone surveillance and attacks [59102]. On the diplomatic front, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a major bilateral security agreement with the United States is "100% ready" for signing, awaiting only a final date and location [58557][58750]. The deal is described as providing long-term security guarantees for Ukraine [58426]. Meanwhile, Russian attacks continue to target Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. A major missile and drone barrage hit Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv, damaging energy facilities and residential areas [58413]. Experts describe Russia's sustained bombardment of the power grid as an "energy war" aimed at breaking civilian morale during winter [58553]. Ukraine Plans to Build More Drones in One Year Than U.S. Has Ever Made Ukraine Strikes Deep: Russian Fuel and Radar Hit in Coordinated Blows Ukraine Strikes Key Russian Oil Refinery, Moscow Blames "Debris" Drones, Not Mud, Now Dictate Ukraine's Winter War U.S.-Ukraine Security Deal "100% Ready," Says Zelensky Russia Strikes Ukraine Cities as Peace Talks Open "Russia Targets Ukraine's Power Grid in Winter" US-Ukraine Security Pact "100% Ready" for Signing, Zelenskyy Says US-Ukraine Security Deal "100% Ready," Awaiting Signature