In July, Ukraine surpassed Russia in the number of long-range drones put into operation.

According to Forbes, in July Russia sent 426 Shahed drones to Ukraine. During the same period, Ukraine retaliated with more than 520 drone strikes. The publication also suggests that Russia shoots down UAVs less effectively than Ukraine, as Ukrainian strikes have caused significant damage to oil refineries and other strategic targets. Therefore, analysts believe Ukraine has gained an advantage in the strategic long-range drone war.

Also, strikes by Ukrainian UAVs have a multifaceted nature and are directed against many strategic targets in Russian territory that are designed to weaken the Russian economy. These targets include oil refineries, oil and gas storage facilities, and electrical substations. Hits are usually accompanied by pictures and videos on social media, making them easy to confirm. Another target category is Russian military air bases.

The exact range of the various models of Ukrainian strike drones is unknown, but the recent attack on the Olenya air base in Russia was carried out from more than 1,800 km. This puts a considerable number of Russian bases at risk.