Ukraine battlefield: Advanced Ukrainian drones raise concerns among Russian forces
Issued on: 02/05/2026 -
13:38 min From the show
From Ukraine’s evolving battlefield, where drone warfare is redefining front lines and so-called “killing zones,” to reports of “Martian drones” and their impact on both Russian and Ukrainian forces, we also look at the expanding use of unmanned systems in rescue operations, including the evacuation of a 77-year-old woman in Odesa region. FRANCE 24’s Gavin Lee is joined by Olena Krizhanivska, a Ukrainian defence analyst specialising in drones and unmanned systems and founder of Ukraine’s Arms Monitor.
Produced by Gavin Lee, Andrew Hilliar, Maya Yataghene and Guillaume Gougeon
OUR GUESTS
Olena KRYZHANIVSKA
Ukrainian Defence Analyst, specialising in drones and unmanned systems and military technology
BY: Gavin LEE
Andrew HILLIAR
Maya YATAGHENE
Guillaume GOUGEON
VIDEO BY:
Andrew HILLIAR
Gavin LEE
Guillaume GOUGEON
Ukrainian drones strike Russia's Primorsk oil port
Ukrainian drones struck Russia's Primorsk port and a number of vessels in the Baltic Sea on Sunday as part of a wave of attacks targeting Russian energy infrastructure. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes aimed to limit "Russia's war potential". The Kremlin warned that attacks on its oil infrastructure would send global oil prices rising further.
Issued on: 04/05/2026 -
By: FRANCE 24
A handout satellite image taken on March 23, 2026 shows smoke rising from the Russian oil terminal at Primorsk. © Planet Labs PBC, via AFP
Ukraine launched a wave of drone attacks on targets across Russia on Sunday, hitting the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk and setting it on fire, and striking a number of vessels, as it steps up attacks on energy infrastructure and other targets.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the latest wave of strikes, which also hit one oil tanker in the port, a Karakurt-class missile ship and a patrol boat, saying significant damage had been caused to the infrastructure of the oil terminal port.
In a post on Telegram, Zelensky said Ukraine had struck the Karakurt-class missile ship, a patrol boat, and an oil tanker in the Baltic Sea, adding that "each such result further limits Russia’s war potential".
Ukraine launched a wave of drone attacks on targets across Russia on Sunday, hitting the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk and setting it on fire, and striking a number of vessels, as it steps up attacks on energy infrastructure and other targets.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the latest wave of strikes, which also hit one oil tanker in the port, a Karakurt-class missile ship and a patrol boat, saying significant damage had been caused to the infrastructure of the oil terminal port.
In a post on Telegram, Zelensky said Ukraine had struck the Karakurt-class missile ship, a patrol boat, and an oil tanker in the Baltic Sea, adding that "each such result further limits Russia’s war potential".
Ukraine hits oil facilities in Russia
© France 24
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Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the northwest region which hosts the port, said more than 60 drones were downed overnight.
He said the fire at Primorsk, a major oil exporting outlet, was quickly extinguished and there had been no oil spill following the attack.
Ukraine continues to develop long-range capabilities
Primorsk, one of Russia's largest export gateways, has capacity to handle 1 million barrels per day of oil supply. It has been hit multiple times in recent months as as US-brokered talks to end the Ukraine war have stalled.
Zelensky earlier on Sunday said Ukrainian forces also struck two shadow fleet tankers in waters at the entrance to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.
"These tankers had been actively used to transport oil – not anymore," Zelensky said on Telegram. "Ukraine's long-range capabilities will continue to be developed comprehensively – at sea, in the air, and on land."
Russia unfazed by the attacks
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that global oil prices may rise further if Ukraine continues to hit Russia's oil infrastructure, Russian TV reported.
“If additional volumes of our oil are dropped from the market, prices will rise further from current levels, which are already above $120 a barrel," Peskov said. "That would mean that even with lower export volumes, our companies would earn more money and the state would receive more revenue.”
Other Russian regions also reported drone attacks on Saturday and Sunday.
Moscow regional governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Saturday evening that a 77 year-old man had died in a village following a drone strike. And Sergei Sobyanin, mayor of the city of Moscow, said four drones were downed on their way to the Russian capital.
Vasily Anokhin, governor of the western Smolensk region, said three people, including a child, were injured on Sunday after a drone attacked an apartment block there.
Russian troops were meanwhile inching towards the city of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine's top army official said on Saturday.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)
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