Inside Ukraine’s campaign to dismantle Russia’s industrial backbone

The current campaign marks a pivot from defensive attrition to active destruction of Russia’s industrial and military infrastructure. By leveraging medium-range drones like the Hornet, RAM-2X, and Darts, Ukraine is targeting the refineries, chemical plants, and research institutes that fuel the Russian war machine. Kovalenko emphasizes that these strikes are not indiscriminate; they are surgical efforts to cripple the production of rocket fuel, explosives, and advanced weaponry.

Technological integration, specifically the use of artificial intelligence, has become a force multiplier. AI allows drones to operate autonomously, maintaining target acquisition even when Russian electronic warfare systems sever the signal from the operator. This capability, bolstered by precise intelligence inputs from Western allies, has allowed Kyiv to verify high-value targets—from fuel depots to training facilities—with unprecedented accuracy.

This strategy is the result of a coordinated effort involving figures such as Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, and Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert Brovdi. By forcing Russia to fight a war on two fronts—the physical battlefield and the industrial rear—Ukraine aims to neutralize the adversary’s logistics before any potential new mobilization wave can be fully realized.