Zelensky approves “new long-range operations” in response to Russian strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on September 19 that he has approved new long-range operations in response to Russian strikes, following reports from Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi.

“I also approved new long-range operations in response to Russian strikes. We are preparing to expand our long-range capabilities,” Zelensky said in a statement published on September 19, giving no details on the nature or timing of the operations.

The meeting with the defense chiefs also focused on updating the Medical Forces, changing the approach to recruiting foreign fighters and future deep-strike campaigns against Russia. Zelensky has repeatedly described Ukrainian deep strikes as “long-range sanctions” against Moscow.

Ukraine is expanding its campaign against Russian oil refineries, military infrastructure, logistics hubs and weapons production facilities. In July, Kyiv said it could strike targets up to 3,000 kilometers inside Russian territory, after Russia intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities with jet drones and ballistic missiles during spring and summer — ahead of winter, when Moscow is expected to step up strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Zelensky also said that several Ukrainian systems against Shahed jet drones have proven their effectiveness in real combat conditions and that work is underway on their systematic deployment and mass production. Also on Friday, the president announced that the new Ukrainian interceptor struck two Russian Shahed drones, including a Geran-5 jet drone, during fighting on September 19. On September 15, he had announced the successful testing of the domestically produced interceptor against Shahed jet drones.

Source: The Kyiv Independent (https://kyivindependent.com)