Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that Ukraine will not remain silent and will persist in targeting sites within Russia as part of its defense strategy. In an interview with Sky News, he emphasized the daily challenges faced by Ukraine, including relentless drone attacks from Russia.
Zelensky noted that Russia launches approximately 300 drones daily, with larger assaults involving over 600 and occasionally reaching up to 850 drones. He stated, “We live in such circumstances. But this is not the way of life we chose. Russia, and personally Putin, imposed this on Ukraine.”
Since the onset of the conflict, Zelensky has made numerous efforts to communicate with European and American leaders, attempting to convey the urgency of halting Putin’s aggression. He described the involvement of Belarus, which has facilitated attacks on Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties.
“Over the years of war and constant attacks, we have learned many things. We have begun to produce a significant number of different drones and missiles. While we do not yet have ballistic missiles, we are close to achieving that. Our strikes on military targets, including in St. Petersburg, as well as on energy infrastructure following attacks on our energy systems, are our responses. Our strikes in the Moscow region serve as a message that we will not die quietly,” Zelensky stated.
The President assured that Ukraine’s defense forces would continue to retaliate against Russian strikes. “We will respond. And with each passing day, we will grow stronger. That is true. Currently, over 400 companies are working in this sector. Imagine: just a few years ago, this did not exist. Now there are hundreds of companies, and dozens of them are already among the strongest in the world,” he added.
Zelensky also mentioned that Ukraine has begun exporting its knowledge and experience to bolster efforts against Putin and increase pressure on him.
“Support from allies is crucial. Sanctions are even more important. But Putin only understands strength. When the pressure is total. When you are strong. When your response is powerful. That is why we are demonstrating that our drones can reach their cities. I am specifically referring to cities because previously, we mostly targeted villages and small settlements. People live in St. Petersburg and Moscow and often do not consider what is happening in other regions of Russia. We are trying to show them that we will get closer and closer and bring the war back to the territory from which it came to us,” he said.
On the night of May 17, Ukrainian drones targeted several sites in the Moscow region. Zelensky characterized these actions as “entirely justified responses to Russia’s prolongation of the war and attacks on our cities and communities.”
On June 6, Ukrainian defense forces struck the Russian Baltic Fleet’s naval base at Kronstadt, located near St. Petersburg, approximately 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Russian authorities previously confirmed a large-scale drone attack on the Leningrad region and St. Petersburg, with regional governor Alexander Drozdenko stating that Russian air defense had reportedly shot down over 140 drones in the area.
In the early hours of June 3, Ukrainian forces targeted an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, coinciding with the start of the International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which ran until June 6. Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the event.
Additionally, on June 6, Ukrainian defense units struck an oil depot in the Krasnodar region. The Unified Dispatch Service of the Ust-Labinsk District confirmed drone attacks on the “Poltavskaya” oil depot, which resulted in a fire.
Ukrainian security forces, along with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, also targeted the 15th arsenal of the Russian Navy in the Leningrad region on the night of June 6.
President Zelensky has reaffirmed Ukraine's commitment to retaliate against Russian aggression, emphasizing the country's growing military capabilities and the need for international support. Recent drone strikes on Russian territory signify a strategic shift in Ukraine's defense approach amidst ongoing conflict.