The 413th separate regiment of unmanned systems "Reid" showed journalists for the first time how the preparation and launch of long-range drones for strikes on the territory of Russia takes place. The military emphasizes that one of the key advantages of such operations is the use of Ukrainian UAVs, which allow for rapid deployment of launch positions and launching drones from almost any terrain, reports UNN.
Battalion of the "Reid" regiment for deep strike
As noted in the report by NV, the "Reid" regiment is part of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and, among other things, systematically carries out deep strike attacks on the territory of Russia. In the second half of 2025, a battalion was created within the regiment to transition the work in the deep strike segment to a systematic and larger-scale level.
Over several months of operation, the battalion's fighters managed to take part in the most successful and "high-profile" strikes against the Russian Federation. Among them are the attack on the oil loading station in Tuapse, the destruction of a significant part of the port of Ust-Luga, the recent attack on Moscow, and several successful attacks on the occupiers' ships.
The battalion commander with the call sign Schultz notes that such strikes are not solely their merit.
"You see, this field is like an orchestra. Good music will only happen when all the musicians, all the instruments, play well and in harmony. You can't say, 'But I played great!' if the rest of the music is bad. Right now, our colleagues in this field, in this direction — there are already quite a few of them. And the result is there, you see it, only because our actions are coordinated. So you can't say, 'Schultz's unit destroyed Tuapse,' or something like that. This is truly teamwork," he noted.
The advantage of Ukrainian deep strike lies in mobility
One of the most common drones for deep strike is the UAV from the company Fire Point. Its main feature is a launch system using a jet booster, which does not require specially prepared sites. The commander of a deep strike crew of the 413th "Reid" regiment with the call sign "Cupcake" emphasized that this is precisely what gives Ukrainian troops a serious advantage over the enemy.
"The advantages of the (drones – ed.) FP are numerous. We have something to compare with. The launch itself, yes, is a huge advantage. Firstly, deployment and preparation for launches happen quite quickly. Secondly, we are not tied to any large infrastructure facilities. The point is that we can be anywhere. This greatly complicates the enemy's search for us," the soldier said.
According to him, even if the Russians manage to determine the launch site after the mission is completed, it will no longer help.
"Also, if our launch point is compromised, but after the launches have already taken place, it creates almost no problems for us. Tomorrow we won't be here anymore. It's not that we can change the location tomorrow. It's that we will definitely change it," "Cupcake" noted.
The military also uses long-range strike UAVs An-196 Liutyi, but the requirements for their launch differ. These drones are launched from a chassis, which implies certain criteria for the launch site. According to the military, a flat surface, specific terrain, and road surface are needed. But even in this case, there can be quite many launch points, however, the enemy knows at least approximate criteria by which locations can be tracked.
FP strike drones are launched using a jet booster, which allows launches from a road, an open field, or a riverbank. After launch, the booster instantly accelerates the drone, and then the main engine guides it along the route.
The regiment also notes that the speed of crew deployment directly affects their safety. According to NV, some other long-range systems require hours of preparation directly at the position, while FP allows significantly reducing this time and quickly leaving the launch area after completing the mission.
Ukraine has surpassed Russia in deep strike
Commander "Schultz" notes that his unit continues to grow, including in the deep strike direction. According to him, this coincides with a significant increase in the production of Ukrainian drones – both the already mentioned "Liutyi" and FP, as well as less known but effective systems.
The publication notes that in April 2026, French analyst Clément Molin stated that Ukraine has already surpassed Russia in deep strike drone attacks.
It is worth noting that in June, the SSO intensified attacks on targets on the territory of Russia. One of the attacks occurred on the night of June 18. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed strikes on the Moscow oil refinery and in the Rostov region. He thanked the military of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the strikes deep into Russian territory, which were carried out by modernized FP-1 drones, and stated that the long-range sanctions plan is being implemented. Footage appeared online of Ukrainian FP-1 drones over the Russian capital, which the "Pantsir" system is trying in vain to shoot down. This is the second strike on the Moscow oil refinery.
Prior to this, on June 16, attacks by UAVs on oil facilities were recorded in the Moscow region and the Krasnodar Krai of the Russian Federation. Footage was also posted online showing an FP-1 strike drone maneuvering in the sky over Moscow, created by the company Fire Point for deep strikes on enemy territory. Analysts point out that the affected oil refinery is located approximately 15 kilometers from the Kremlin. After these attacks, the Moscow oil refinery will not function for at least six months.
Also in the Russian Federation, they reported a drone attack on the Tyumen oil refinery (formerly the Antipinsky oil refinery). Ukrainian drones also struck the infrastructure of the seaport "Kavkaz" in the Krasnodar Krai – the tank farm of the oil product transshipment complex and the territory of the oil depot were hit.
In addition, the Nizhny Novgorod oil refinery – the NORSI plant – suspended operations for an indefinite period after the Ukrainian attack.
After a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, the Russians began to have problems with fuel.