Local residents walk along the street covered with an anti-FPV drone net in the frontline city of Kherson, Southern Ukraine, Monday, November 4, 2025.
Ukrainian forces have struck targets deep inside Russia while defending the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. The latest wave of long-range drone attacks has shaken Russian defenses and highlighted Kyiv’s growing reach in the nearly four-year-long war.
Ukrainian Drones Target Russian Industrial Plant
Two Ukrainian long-range drones targeted an industrial facility in Sterlitamak, a city in Russia’s Bashkortostan region — nearly 1,300 kilometers from Ukraine.
Regional Governor Radiy Habirov confirmed the attack, saying both drones were shot down. He reported no casualties and noted that the facility continued normal operations.
However, local authorities later reported an explosion at the Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant. The blast caused part of the water treatment structure to collapse. Officials have yet to confirm the cause, though the plant, which produces rubber and aviation fuel, has not been previously attacked.
Explosions Reported in Other Russian Regions
Russian media also reported explosions in the Nizhny Novgorod region, around 800 kilometers from Ukraine. The area houses an oil refinery and a petrochemical facility.
While officials did not verify the incident, it adds to a string of deep strikes that have unsettled Russian citizens and embarrassed Moscow’s defense establishment.
Ukraine has been using domestically developed drones to hit critical Russian infrastructure, including energy hubs, factories, and logistics bases. These attacks aim to disrupt Moscow’s supply chains and war machinery.
Russia Claims to Intercept 85 Drones Overnight
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that air defenses shot down 85 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry listed Bashkortostan and Nizhny Novgorod among the affected regions.
Despite the interceptions, the scale and distance of the strikes suggest Ukraine’s drone program continues to expand and become more effective.
Russia Retaliates With Heavy Bombardment on Ukraine
In response, Russian forces launched a large-scale overnight assault on Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region. According to Ukrainian officials, one person was killed and 11 others were injured, including two children.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia fired seven missiles and 130 drones — both attack and decoy types — during the night.
Romania Monitors Attacks Near Its Border
Romania’s Defense Ministry said Russian strikes also hit Ukraine’s Danube port facilities, close to the Romanian border.
The NATO member nation deployed two pairs of fighter jets from separate airbases for air policing missions after observing multiple explosions across the river on Ukrainian territory.
Pokrovsk Becomes the Center of Fierce Ground Combat
Meanwhile, intense fighting continues in Pokrovsk — a key Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Donetsk region. The city has been under constant pressure as Russian troops push to seize control after more than a year of fighting.
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, reported that Russian forces “continue to advance in the Pokrovsk direction” and now appear to be “operating with increasing comfort within the city.”
Kyiv’s Strategy: Hitting Back and Holding Ground
Ukraine’s dual approach — striking deep into Russian territory while holding critical defensive positions — underscores a shift in battlefield dynamics.
The attacks not only disrupt Russian operations but also send a clear message: Ukraine’s reach is growing, and its resistance remains unbroken.
As the war drags on, Pokrovsk has become a symbol of Ukraine’s determination to resist Moscow’s advance — while the deep drone strikes inside Russia demonstrate that the conflict’s boundaries are no longer confined to the frontlines.
