Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that Ukraine will aim to launch 1,000 long‑range drones per day against targets inside Russia as a formal military goal.
- Kyiv currently averages about 300 long‑range strikes daily and says the stepped‑up campaign will focus on oil refineries and missile‑engine and other military production sites to squeeze Russian fuel and export revenue.
- Zelensky stressed urgent need to accelerate production and delivery of interceptors for jet‑powered Shahed drones, and European partners have pledged faster shipments and licensing for local production.
- Ukrainian officials reported a strike on an oil refinery in Russia’s Yaroslavl region and recent attacks that damaged Russian air bases, while separate Russian raids on Ukrainian cities killed and injured civilians across multiple regions.
- The push for higher strike rates comes as rare US–Russia intelligence contacts were reported and analysts warn the plan could deepen supply strains for interceptors and raise escalation risks for regional airspace and infrastructure.