Image Credentials: Image Title: Zelensky Establishes Dedicated Long-Range Strike Command to Intensify Attacks Inside Russia. Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: July 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) by Open Chronicle and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with Agencies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the creation of a new dedicated long-range command within the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a move designed to centralize and expand operations targeting military infrastructure deep inside Russian territory.
The new formation reflects Kyiv’s growing emphasis on long-range precision strikes as a core element of its wartime strategy, following months of increasingly sophisticated drone and missile attacks against Russian energy facilities, logistics hubs, airfields, and defense industries.
New command to coordinate deep strike operations
Speaking during his evening address, Zelensky confirmed that he had signed a decree establishing what he described as a special command dedicated to long-range operations against Russia.
According to the Ukrainian president, the command will focus on concentrating military resources and capabilities to strike strategic targets that support Russia’s war effort.
The announcement comes as Ukraine continues to expand its ability to project force hundreds and, in some cases, thousands of kilometers beyond the front lines using domestically developed long-range drones and precision weapons.
Long-range campaign gains momentum
Since early 2026, Ukraine has significantly increased attacks against Russian oil refineries, fuel depots, military production facilities, logistics centers, rail infrastructure, and ports.
Kyiv argues these operations are intended to weaken Russia’s military capacity by disrupting the industries and transportation networks that sustain Moscow’s invasion.
Recent strikes have reportedly contributed to fuel shortages in parts of Russia, forced restrictions on diesel exports, and prompted increased protection of strategic infrastructure.
Strategic shift in Ukraine’s military doctrine
Military analysts view the establishment of a dedicated command as evidence that Ukraine is institutionalizing its long-range strike campaign rather than treating it as a series of isolated operations.
Instead of relying solely on battlefield engagements along the front, Kyiv increasingly seeks to impose economic and logistical costs on Russia by targeting assets far from active combat zones.
Officials have repeatedly described these attacks as a means of bringing the consequences of the war onto Russian territory while reducing Moscow’s ability to sustain offensive operations.
Pressure on Russian defenses
The expansion of Ukrainian strike capabilities has forced Russia to redistribute air defense systems toward critical infrastructure and major cities, including Moscow and key industrial regions.
Analysts believe this stretches Russian defensive resources across a vast territory, creating additional vulnerabilities while complicating efforts to protect energy facilities and military production sites.
The evolving campaign highlights how long-range drone warfare has become one of the defining features of the conflict, complementing conventional operations on the battlefield.
While fighting continues along the front, the creation of the new command underscores Ukraine’s intention to further develop strategic strike capabilities and maintain pressure on Russia’s military and industrial infrastructure.