NEW DELHI: Within days of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meetings with leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations in France, Ukraine launched one of its biggest long-range drone campaigns since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The strikes reached hundreds of kilometres inside Russian territory, hitting oil refineries, fuel depots, defence industries, communications facilities and military logistics hubs, including sites near Moscow.
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The attacks marked a major escalation in Kyiv's strategy of taking the war beyond the front lines and into the infrastructure that sustains Russia's military campaign. Coming immediately after fresh commitments by G7 leaders to strengthen Ukraine's air defences, defence industry and economic resilience, the timing has fuelled questions over whether the summit gave Kyiv greater confidence to intensify pressure on Moscow.
The latest offensive also comes as Russia faces mounting pressure on its fuel supply network. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on Sunday that repeated Ukrainian strikes on oil infrastructure had caused fuel shortages in several regions, although he described them as "temporary" and insisted Moscow would continue pursuing its military objectives, according to Reuters.
While fighting along the front lines remains largely a war of attrition, Ukraine has increasingly relied on domestically developed long-range drones to strike strategic targets deep inside Russia. Military analysts say the objective is not simply to destroy infrastructure but to force Moscow to divert air defence systems, disrupt fuel supplies, raise the economic cost of the war and weaken Russia's ability to sustain prolonged military operations.
G7 summit gives Kyiv fresh diplomatic backing
Ukraine arrived at the June 15-17 G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, seeking greater military assistance as Russia continued launching missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Kyiv also pushed for more advanced air defence systems amid growing concerns over shortages of interceptor missiles.
G7 leaders responded with fresh commitments to strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities, reinforce its energy infrastructure ahead of winter and increase economic pressure on Russia through additional sanctions.
Following the summit, Zelenskyy described the outcome as a diplomatic success.
"The G7 Summit in France delivered important results for Ukraine. Most importantly, we agreed on additional strengthening of Ukraine's air defence. There will be new steps to put pressure on Russia over its war - pressure for the sake of peace," Zelenskyy wrote on X.
He added: "Our partners will ensure support for our defence and energy resilience. It is important that we have a shared understanding of the main challenges and concrete steps to respond to them."
In another post after the discussions, Zelenskyy thanked G7 leaders for what he described as "strong ideas on how to force Russia into peace.”
"Priorities are clear: more air defense missiles along with licences to produce them, winter support package, and cranking up pressure on Russia. Importantly, the US is ready to provide backstop across these lines of effort."
He added: "It is key that everything discussed be implemented. Russia must come to learn that its war will never be normalized. I thank everyone who's helping."
The G7 leaders later issued a joint declaration reaffirming their support for Ukraine.
"We, the Leaders of the G7, stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity."
According to ANI, the declaration included plans to expand deliveries of air defence systems, interceptors and long-range capabilities while also exploring licensing arrangements that would allow Ukraine to manufacture more Western weapons domestically. The leaders also pledged additional support for Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of winter and promised stronger sanctions targeting Russia's oil and gas industries.
French President Emmanuel Macron later described the summit as producing "unprecedented convergence" among G7 leaders on continued support for Ukraine, AP reported.
