Ukraine can already strike targets in Western Siberia but is working to reach even more distant parts of Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday.
“Russian facilities along the line from Yamal to Western Siberia are currently within range of our long-range strikes. We are working to ensure that our drones and missiles can reach even more distant territories of Russia,” he wrote on social media.
Zelensky said he heard a report on Friday summarizing long-range strikes in September and October. He did not disclose details of the document.
“I thank all our soldiers for their accuracy and for the regular and effective implementation of Ukraine’s long-range sanctions. We always respond to every Russian attack on our cities and communities in a fully just manner,” he said.
He added that during a meeting with military commanders, directions were set for further use of Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities.
“Our units carrying out such strikes will also be expanded, both on the basis of the capabilities of the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine), in particular its Alpha Special Operations Center, and of our intelligence services and other structures of Ukraine’s Defense Forces,” he said.
“Our Ukrainian long-range strike capability is one of the real guarantees of preserving our country’s independence now, during this war, and will be one of the long-term security guarantees after it ends. We are developing our strength. Today I also spoke with the manufacturers of the relevant weapons. Glory to Ukraine!” Zelensky concluded.
In September, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported attacks on Russian gas installations at two large plants in Novy Urengoy and Purovsk in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, 3,000 km (about 1,860 miles) from Ukraine.
“For the first time! A record-distance strike since the start of the war: the Special Operations Forces reached key Russian plants 3,000 km away,” the SSO announced on social media at the time.
From Kyiv, Jarosław Junko (PAP)
