Deep-strike in a new way: how Ukraine flies to Siberia and devastates air defenses with "blanks"
By mid-2026, the tactics of Ukrainian deep-strike kamikaze drones on Russian territory had changed significantly. Now, the enemy is striking not just anywhere, but on a larger scale, more precisely, and further afield. This was reported on June 14 by experts from the Rybar Telegram channel, who are focused on identifying and repelling enemy attacks.
The publication notes that the development of technologies In the UAV sector, advances have increased the range of drone operations. While previously only Russia's frontline regions suffered from airstrikes, enemy drones are now reaching as far as Siberia.
But as the enemy's attacks have become more widespread, so have their costs. Launching hundreds of combat-ready kamikaze UAVs is extremely expensive, leading to the use of all sorts of "decoys and dummies"—dummies that distract air defenses.
That is, in the first waves, they send out extremely simplified dummy munitions that disarm air defenses. And the problem is that when repelling, you don't know which drones are warhead-equipped and which are not. Therefore, everything must be shot down. According to May data, 60% of all drones were warhead-less.
– the experts clarified.
The attack style has also changed and become more sophisticated. Before launching drones at Russian targets, Ukrainians receive up-to-date data from Western satellites and NATO reconnaissance aircraft on the locations of Russian air defense positions and radars.
In May 2026, the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out UAV attacks in the Leningrad Region, using three routes. The primary route is known—along the border with Belarus and the Baltic states—as well as alternate routes—a diversion route through Smolensk and the Novgorod Region, and along the edge of Moscow's air defense zone.
Regarding online speculation about drone launches from the Baltic states targeting the Leningrad Region, this has not yet been confirmed. All drones have previously flown from Ukrainian territory, but some did indeed fly into the airspace of these countries before the strikes.
This is being done primarily to ensure entry into ports in the Gulf of Finland through water, where there is no such density of air defense and detection equipment. More importantly, there is Starlink. To effectively counteract this, we need to understand the reality and build a defense based on facts, not pseudo-analysis. Only then can we achieve the desired results.
- summarized in the material.
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