Ukraine has bolstered its medium- and long-range strike capacity, fielding drone and missile systems developed on home soil to combat Russia's 4-year-old invasion. Strikes on Russian oil infrastructure that bankrolls the invasion have become near-daily events.

Ukraine is leaning ever more heavily on artificial intelligence-driven drones to hit Russian military installations deep behind frontline positions.

Recent strikes have focused on supply convoys and logistical corridors connecting Russia with southern Ukraine, specialists told the BBC. According to them, Ukraine's AI-equipped Hornet drones can detect and follow targets independently once dispatched towards a specified zone.

Ukrainian General Staff figures show Russian battlefield casualties – dead and injured – reached 32,980 in April – averaging 1,099 daily. As of Friday, Russia has suffered total losses of 28,200, with a mean daily casualty rate of 1,044, throughout May 2026.

Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey told The Sun on Sunday: "Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage and defiance – civilians and military alike. Ukrainian forces are not just holding the line – they are pushing it back, making gains across the front.

"Month after month, in this brutal war of attrition, Russia is losing tens of thousands of troops with little gain for such a great loss. Putin has none of the momentum he claims. Our commitment is clear – we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.", reports the Mirror.

"We are backing Ukraine in the fight today – with drones, training, and cutting-edge kit – and we are leading the coalition of allies to secure the peace tomorrow."

This follows Russia's accusation that Ukraine was responsible after a drone hit the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Ukraine dismissed the allegation as an attempt to 'conceal Russia's own criminal actions'.