Ukrainian drones can hit Russian military targets at 1,800 km distance - intelligence chief

He wrote about this on Facebook, congratulating military intelligence officers on their professional holiday.

“I am grateful to every serviceman, veteran, and everyone who defends the national interests of our state as part of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. Anticipating the enemy's actions is a systematic work of military intelligence officers entrusted to us by the President of Ukraine. Responding to threats, protecting the lives of Ukrainian citizens is our sacred duty, from which we will never retreat,” Budanov emphasized.

He said that this year, military intelligence officers helped Ukraine show the world that the Black Sea doesn't belong to Russia. They made the enemy move their ships farther away and leave the sea borders they thought were theirs. 

“Unmanned systems, which are currently being developed by the best specialists, including representatives of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, already allow us to hit the military targets of the aggressor state at a distance of up to 1800 km. Military airfields, which are a source of constant threat to peaceful Ukrainian cities, are shaking from air attacks. The entire infrastructure of the Russian Federation working for the war is suffering and will continue to suffer losses,” the Chief of DIU emphasized.

He also added that during the year, the DIU cyber specialists conducted dozens of successful operations, gaining valuable information for Ukraine, penetrated the aggressor state's databases, and found weaknesses in communications. Budanov emphasized that this is not the only source of information on the activities of Russia's military and political command that is currently available to Ukrainian military intelligence.

“The DIU's active units are constantly involved in performing complex combat tasks both on and beyond the contact line. The reconnaissance men repel enemy attacks, ensure evacuation of the wounded, liberate defenders and civilians from Russian captivity, return Ukrainian citizens home from the countries where combat actions are taking place,” Budanov emphasized.

• On July 27, drones of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate targeted a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber at the Olenya airfield in Russia, which is located 1,800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.