President Zelensky approved new long-range operations in response to Russian strikes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky approved new long-range operations against Russia in response to ongoing Moscow strikes against Ukrainian cities. The announcement came on September 19, 2026, following extensive briefings with Ukraine’s top military leadership, including Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi. [1, 2, 3]
Concurrently, Ukrainian long-range strikes have successfully hit an oil depot and logistics facilities near Moscow, located over 400 kilometers (250 miles) from the Ukrainian border, alongside an industrial facility in Russia’s Voronezh region. [4, 5]
Key Elements of the Military Briefing
According to statements released by Zelensky on Telegram and the social media platform X, the updated military strategy focuses on several strategic domains: [1, 2]Expanding Deep-Strike Capabilities: Ukraine is preparing to extend the reach and frequency of its domestic long-range weapons systems to continuously target Russian military logistics, chemical plants, and oil infrastructure. [3, 6, 7]
Mass Producing Jet-Powered Drone Interceptors: Zelensky confirmed that domestically developed high-speed interceptors successfully downed Russian jet-powered Shahed-type drones (including the Geran-5) in combat. He ordered the immediate systematic deployment and large-scale production of these interceptor systems. [8, 9]
Overhauling Medical Forces Command: Following a recent change in leadership, the administration is updating management structures to widely scale up effective battlefield medical and brigade patronage practices across all combat units. [2, 10]
Recruiting Foreign Volunteers: Leadership discussed revising regulatory frameworks to streamline and optimize the mechanism for recruiting foreign volunteers into Ukraine’s defense forces. [2, 9]Context and Geopolitical Friction
The authorization to intensify deep-strike operations comes despite public pushback from U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently urged Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries out of concern over international diesel shortages and fluctuating energy prices. [7, 11]
Kyiv has remained firm, with Zelensky countering that “bringing Russia’s war of aggression back home” is a justified mechanism to degrade the Kremlin’s war-making economy. Zelensky noted that previous campaigns have already successfully knocked out an estimated 10 percent of Russian oil refining capabilities, forcing Moscow into steep state budget deficits. Kyiv has indicated it will only halt infrastructure strikes if a reciprocal, credible agreement is established preventing Russia from targeting Ukraine’s critical energy grid. [6, 11, 12][1] meduza.io
[2] anews.com.tr
[3] en.yenisafak.com
[4] facebook.com
[5] kyivpost.com
[6] facebook.com
[7] news.liga.net
[8] kyivindependent.com
[9] english.ajel.sa
[10] united24media.com
[11] instagram.com
[12] facebook.com
– Google Search google.com/search?q=Presiden…— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Sep 20, 2026
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