Ukrainian special forces struck two major Russian natural gas processing plants in northwestern Siberia on Wednesday in a record long-range drone attack.
The unmanned aerial vehicles traveled more than 3,000 kilometres from the Ukrainian border to hit facilities in Novy Urengoy and the surrounding Purovsky district.
Both targeted sites are located in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, an Arctic region that serves as the heartland of Russia's natural gas production. Ukrainian special forces described the targeted installations as two giants of the Russian gas processing industry.
In a statement published on Telegram, Ukrainian special forces confirmed that the mission was the deepest strike inside Russian territory since the war began. They noted that the remote northern region had previously been considered by Moscow to be completely safe from attack.
President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the long-range operations, stating that strikes on key industrial infrastructure directly damage the Russian economy. Exporting natural gas provides significant revenue for the Russian state budget.
Strike on Novy Urengoy
Russian regional authorities acknowledged the drone attack in northwestern Siberia on Wednesday. Dmitry Artyukhov, governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, reported that local defenses repelled a drone strike directed at an industrial facility in Novy Urengoy.
Artyukhov stated that falling wreckage from the intercepted drone caused a fire at the industrial location. He added that the incident resulted in no deaths or injuries, urging residents to stay calm while assuring them that the situation remained under control.
The city of Novy Urengoy was established in the 1970s following the discovery of the Urengoy gas field, one of the largest natural gas deposits in the world. Located near the Arctic Circle, it acts as an administrative hub for energy production across northern Siberia.
The Yamalo-Nenets territory accounts for the vast majority of Russia's natural gas output, feeding extensive pipeline networks that supply domestic centers and international buyers.
Escalating Long-Range Warfare
Responsibility for the strike in the Urals region was claimed by Fire Point. The group is recognized as one of the primary architects of Ukrainian deep-strike operations targeting industrial and supply infrastructure inside Russia.
Serhiy Sternenko, a military blogger and former adviser to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, noted that the drone flight path of 3,000 kilometres from the Ukrainian border set a new distance record.
The attack reflects an escalation in long-range warfare between Ukraine and Russia in recent weeks. Both sides have increased strikes targeting industrial facilities, military installations, and supply chains far behind the front lines.
The Siberian strike follows earlier deep-range raids by Ukrainian forces against distant targets. In late July, Ukrainian drones struck industrial infrastructure in the remote Russian regions of Bashkortostan and Chuvashia.
