FT: The U.S. And France Helped Ukraine Identify Weak Spots In Russia’s Air Defense System For Drone Strikes
- 29.07.2026, 18:38
Western intelligence helped make long-range strikes more effective.
Ukrainian drones are increasingly effective at striking critical targets in Russia. This has been made possible by new tactics and support from Western partners.
This was reported by Financial Times.
According to the publication, while large-scale attacks on oil refineries were previously the main objective, Ukrainian forces are now focusing on targeting critical components without which the facilities cannot operate at full capacity. This approach is intended not only to cause damage but also to make the restoration of these facilities as difficult and costly as possible for Russia.
FT sources among Ukrainian military personnel, drone operators, and energy specialists said that each operation is carefully planned. Before takeoff, operators receive guidance from engineers on the facilities’ most vulnerable components and are provided with backup targets in case the primary target is inaccessible due to air defense systems or other circumstances.
According to the operators, drones are increasingly striking facilities that have already been damaged before repairs are completed. This prevents Russian enterprises from quickly resuming production.
As Ukrainian officials note, intelligence from the U.S. and France played a key role in the campaign. This intelligence made it possible to map the locations of Russian air defense systems and identify routes by which drones could bypass air defenses and reach targets deep inside Russia.
In addition, Western intelligence helped refine the target selection process. As explained by Andriy Zagorodnyuk, head of the Center for Defense Strategies and a former defense minister, Ukrainian military planners created a detailed map of the Russian power grid. This made it possible to identify nodes whose damage could lead to large-scale disruptions in the system’s operation, as well as equipment that is the most difficult to replace.
Robert Brovdy, commander of unmanned systems forces, stated that the campaign also relies on the systematic destruction of Russian air defense, radar, and electronic warfare assets, which opens corridors for strike drones.
According to him, the main objective of the strikes remains the destruction of Russia’s sources of war funding and the weakening of its military-industrial complex.
“The goal is clear: to destroy the sources financing Putin’s war and the military-industrial complex supplying weapons to the occupying army,” Brovdy said.
He also emphasized that Ukrainian units have no intention of reducing the intensity of long-range strikes on Russian territory.