Secretive Ukrainian deep-strike unit behind rapid expansion of campaign

A burning oil terminal following an air attack in St. Petersburg on Oct. 18. | AFP-JIJI

Oct 25, 2026

When he started flying unmanned aircraft in combat, “Ray” was flying some of Ukraine’s earliest midrange strike drones, on missions of about 100 kilometers with a warhead about the weight of a bowling ball.

Now many of the weapons he works with are small, cheap cruise missiles that fly deep into Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine, hitting everything from air defense systems to natural gas terminals and oil refineries.

The transformation in striking power is down to evolving Ukrainian manufacturing prowess — but also complex mission planning using detailed maps, satellite photos from Western partners that show Russian air defenses, a robust intelligence network and even energy industry veterans, whose expertise identifies weak spots in production facilities. In one strike in September, Kairos and other units set fire to an oil refinery on Moscow’s doorstep.

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