Zelensky Approves New Long-Range Strikes on Russia, Orders Scale-Up of Interceptor Drones

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on September 19 that he had signed off on a fresh round of long-range strike operations against Russian territory, describing the move as a direct response to continuing Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. The announcement came after a military briefing with Defence Minister Yevhen Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, and adds to a deep-strike campaign that Kyiv has steadily expanded through 2026.

"I also approved new long-range operations in response to Russian strikes," Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine is preparing to expand its long-range capabilities. He did not disclose what the new operations would target, though he has previously described such strikes as "long-range sanctions" aimed at Russian oil facilities, military infrastructure, logistics hubs and weapons-production sites deep inside Russian territory. Ukrainian officials have said drones have hit targets more than 3,000 kilometres from the border, reaching as far as Siberia.

Interceptor drones score a hit

Alongside the strike order, Zelensky announced steps to mass-produce a domestically developed high-speed interceptor drone built to counter Russia's jet-powered Shahed attack drones, a newer and faster variant of the Iranian-designed weapon that has increasingly swarmed Ukrainian cities through the summer. The president said Ukrainian forces used the interceptor to down two Shaheds in combat on September 19, including a jet-powered Geran-5, building on a successful test he had announced four days earlier. He called on developers and manufacturers to move toward systematic deployment and larger-scale output of the system as Ukraine braces for what officials expect to be another difficult winter of strikes on its energy grid.

Briefing also covers medics and foreign volunteers

The September 19 briefing additionally covered updates to Ukraine's Medical Forces following recent leadership changes, and a revised framework for foreign nationals serving in Ukraine's military. Zelensky said volunteers who feel that Ukraine's defence of its independence has global significance should receive a proper opportunity to prove themselves, thanking foreign fighters already in Ukrainian ranks.

Backdrop: a punishing week of strikes

The announcement followed a punishing stretch for Ukrainian civilians. Russian forces struck a high-rise residential building in Sumy with guided bombs, killing at least two people, while a separate drone strike on Kyiv Oblast on the night of September 19 killed a mother and her two young children, regional officials said. Ukraine's air force reported downing 138 of 174 drones Russia launched overnight into September 19, part of attacks that killed 11 people and injured more than 60 across the country over 24 hours, according to Kyiv's tally.

Moscow has not commented on Zelensky's latest strike order. The exchange of long-range attacks has become a defining feature of the war's fourth year, with both sides racing to outpace the other's air defences — Russia through jet-powered drones and mass missile salvos, and Ukraine through deeper strikes and homegrown interceptor technology.

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