Ukraine has intensified its campaign of deep strikes against Russian military infrastructure by targeting drone manufacturing facilities near Moscow. In the latest attack, long-range Ukrainian drones struck a concealed drone production site in Obukhovo, just outside the Russian capital, approximately 300 miles from Ukraine’s border. Reports indicate that the facility was hidden inside a concrete plant, with local residents hearing loud explosions followed by a fire.
This marks another strike against Russian drone factories, as Ukraine continues its strategy of targeting the very industry supporting Russia’s unmanned aerial operations. In April, Ukraine deployed an Aeroprakt A-22 sport plane drone to attack a drone production plant in Yelabuga, 550 miles east of Moscow. These long-range drone strikes have become a crucial part of Kyiv’s military strategy as the war enters its 37th month.
Ukraine has also continued to strike Russian energy infrastructure as retaliation for Moscow’s repeated missile attacks, which have severely damaged Ukraine’s power grid and left millions without electricity. Russian authorities confirmed that air defence systems intercepted four Ukrainian drones near Moscow in the second such attack within a week.
The growing use of drones on both sides has reshaped the conflict, with unmanned aerial vehicles dominating the battlefield. Ukrainian drones are so prevalent over key front lines that Russian military vehicles are struggling to operate safely. A Russian military blogger recently complained that Russian forces now face a “one way” battle, where leaving dugouts exposes them to immediate Ukrainian drone strikes.
According to various sources, drones of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine have struck a concealed drone manufacturing facility in the Kaluga region.
Long-range strike drones of the Main Directorate of Intelligence targeted the UAV production site in the village of Obukhovo,… pic.twitter.com/IMp8Fd0izm
— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) March 13, 2025
While Russia has developed countermeasures, including fibre-optic drones that are resistant to Ukrainian electronic warfare, the Kremlin remains locked in a production race with Kyiv. Moscow has announced plans to acquire up to 4 million first person view drones this year, while Ukraine’s defence ministry aims to procure 4.5 million.
Ukrainian forces, by targeting Russian drone factories with their own drones, are attempting to disrupt Russian production and maintain dominance in aerial warfare. Ukraine’s deep strikes on key Russian facilities are proving to be an effective method of weakening Moscow’s ability to sustain drone attacks.
