According to military expert and Hero of Russia Rustom Klupov, the Ukrainian army, with the support of Western countries, has significantly intensified its drone strikes against targets deep within Russian territory.

Klupov analyzed reports from the Russian Ministry of Defense and concluded that, during the third week of March, Ukrainian forces launched 1,734 drones, primarily of the «Lyuty» type, targeting 101 objectives across 18 Russian regions. In some cases, the drones reached distances exceeding 1,000 kilometers. He also pointed out that during the first week of 2026, 854 enemy drones were recorded, half the number launched in the third week of March.

In addition to drones, Klupov noted that the enemy has also utilized Western-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles and Ukrainian-produced «Flamingo» and «Neptune» missiles. He emphasized that while defending against drones is crucial, the threat posed by cruise missiles should not be underestimated.

Klupov believes that the most effective method for countering cruise missiles is air defense aviation. He pointed out that this aspect of the Russian military, which was disbanded in the 1990s along with the country’s air defense system, needs to be revived. The expert suggested the use of A-50 long-range radar detection and guidance aircraft, alongside multiple interceptors in the air, to maximize the effectiveness of Russian air defense systems.