A Deep Dive into Bold Attacks on Russian Territory and Their Strategic Implications

Last Sunday, as Ukrainians celebrated Independence Day, Russia accused Kyiv of launching dozens of drones at a nuclear power plant in Kursk. The attack caused a large fire and damaged parts of the plant's infrastructure. According to Russian authorities, an auxiliary transformer was damaged, and a nuclear reactor's operating capacity was reduced by 50 percent. Ukraine's military did not comment on the attack, but President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized his nation's resolve in the face of Russian aggression in a video address.

This attack is one of several bold actions Ukraine has taken on Russian territory this year. Military experts have observed that Kyiv is bringing the war to Russia in new ways. Orysia Lutsevych of Chatham House noted that Ukraine has significantly improved its armed forces since the war began, with new technology, a new way of fighting, and determination.

One notable attack occurred on June 1st of this year, when Ukrainian security services launched a covert drone attack deep inside Russia. The coordinated strike involved 117 drones, targeting Moscow's long-range aviation assets across five different areas. Drones were launched from trucks on Russian territory, bypassing geographic challenges, with confirmed damage even in eastern Siberia.

Another significant incursion saw Ukraine claim 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory. Moscow authorities conceded that Kyiv had captured 28 settlements last year. Ms. Lutsevych described this move as demonstrating that Russian territory is not invincible.

In July, major airports in Moscow were temporarily closed due to a sustained Ukrainian drone attack, which resulted in the cancellation of at least 140 flights. Russia's defense ministry reported downing over 230 drones across the country, including 27 over the capital. This affected tens of thousands of Russian civilians. Drone strikes in the first months of 2025 forced Russia to suspend airport operations over 200 times, a record number since the start of the war.

Ukraine's more aggressive approach to attacking Russian soil comes after comments from former US leaders. Ukraine's armed forces have incorporated drones into their warfare, and their legacy in missile development dates back to Soviet times. Ukraine recently unveiled its new "Flamingo" cruise missile, which can carry a warhead weighing more than one tonne and fly more than 3,000 kilometers deep into Russia.

Ms. Lutsevych believes Ukraine's bold approach is an attempt to show that Russia is vulnerable and cannot achieve its objectives. It aims to demonstrate that Russia can be defeated on Ukrainian territory and to raise the cost of the war for Russia, making it unsustainable.