Ukraine’s Long-Range Drones Erode Russia’s Air-Defense Shield
Ukraine’s sustained long-range drone campaign is steadily eroding Russia’s air-defense network—from Moscow’s perimeter to rear logistics—by repeatedly targeting interceptors, oil infrastructure, and bases. Russian under-investment, bureaucratic constraints, and reliance on electronic warfare leave gaps that Kyiv’s growing drone force can exploit, forcing Moscow to deploy mobile interceptors and improvise defenses while Ukraine expands its reach and keeps pressuring strategic targets. Intercepting drones remains expensive for Russia, and as Ukraine scales up, these air-defense gaps threaten Moscow’s ability to shield important assets into 2026.