President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Ukraine carried out long-range strikes against targets deep within Russian territory [5].

These operations signal an escalation in Ukraine's ability to strike military-industrial infrastructure far from the front lines. By targeting production sites for explosives and drones, Ukraine aims to degrade the logistics supporting the Russian war effort.

In an address on May 23, Zelensky thanked the Security Service of Ukraine for a successful operation in the Perm region [5]. He described the strike as a "long-range sanction" against Russia, noting the target was located approximately 1,700 km [1] from the Ukrainian state border.

This strike in the Perm region occurred on May 7 [3]. The operation focused on damaging facilities used for the production of aviation components and explosives [6].

Separate reports indicate another long-range operation occurred on May 8 [4]. That strike targeted an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, which is located roughly 700 km [2] from the border. Zelensky said these types of operations were "long-range sanctions in action" [7].

Zelensky said the strikes were designed to disrupt the production of drones and other military equipment. The president thanked Ukrainian soldiers for their accuracy in hitting these distant targets [3].

Russian authorities have not officially confirmed the extent of the damage to the facilities in Perm or Yaroslavl. However, the distance of the Perm strike—nearly 1,700 km [1]—represents one of the deepest incursions into Russian territory since the conflict began.

“"Sodiday bula khorosha nasha dalekobijna sanktsija proty Rosiyi," Zelensky said.”

The confirmation of strikes reaching 1,700 km indicates a significant expansion of Ukraine's operational reach. By shifting focus from tactical battlefield targets to strategic industrial hubs like Perm and Yaroslavl, Ukraine is attempting to create a 'domestic front' within Russia. This strategy seeks to force the Russian military to divert air defense resources away from the front lines to protect deep-interior factories, potentially slowing the replenishment of Russian munitions and aircraft.