Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that the country’s drones can now strike targets up to 3,000 kilometers away, marking a significant enhancement in their operational capabilities. In a recent evening address, he highlighted a successful attack on an oil refinery in the Tyumen region of Russia, which is approximately 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine’s borders.
Zelensky stated, “Long-range strikes have reached the Tyumen region in Russia,” referring specifically to the oil processing facility. He credited the achievement to new, upgraded FP drones, expressing gratitude to the engineers involved in their development. “Now our drones can reach targets at a distance of 3,000 kilometers. I thank the engineers at Fire Point,” he added.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that the plan for long-range strikes is being executed effectively. He also reported ongoing medium-range attacks by Ukrainian forces targeting military objectives in temporarily occupied territories.
“It is important that this truly impacts Russian military logistics,” said Zelensky.
In Tyumen, local authorities reported that Ukrainian drones targeted the regional oil refinery, although Governor Alexander Moor stated that the attack was repelled and preliminary information indicated that the facility was unharmed. The regional emergency management service confirmed the extinguishing of a fire covering an area of 100 square meters.
Residents reported hearing several explosions, and videos circulating on social media showed smoke rising from the refinery area. Russian publication Astra also noted the presence of smoke above the Tyumen refinery.
In response to the drone activity, a no-fly zone for drones has been implemented in Tyumen and neighboring regions, including Kurgan, Chelyabinsk, and Sverdlovsk. Additionally, restrictions on flight operations have been enforced at Tyumen’s Roschino Airport.
The Tyumen refinery, previously known as the Antipinsky Refinery, is the largest independent oil processing facility in Russia and the only industrial refinery in the Ural Federal District, according to Forbes. The plant has a processing capacity of between 7.5 and 9 million tons of crude oil annually, as noted by Defense Ministry advisor Sergey Sternenko.
“This is a record distance for Ukrainian Deep Strike drones,” he commented on the attack.
Ukrainian forces have been regularly targeting Russian oil industry facilities. In late May, Reuters reported that nearly all major oil refineries in central Russia had been forced to halt or reduce production due to drone strikes. Residents in regions such as Belgorod, Ryazan, and Krasnodar have reported shortages of gasoline and diesel, prompting fuel sale restrictions in several areas, including limits on gasoline sales at major gas station chains in Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian drones can now strike targets up to 3,000 kilometers away, successfully targeting a Russian oil refinery in Tyumen. Local authorities reported that the attack was repelled, but it underscores the increasing capabilities of Ukraine's drone operations and their impact on Russian military logistics.