Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, together with the General Staff, is launching a program called “Logistical Lockdown” to scale up deep strikes on Russia’s operational rear, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
According to his post on Telegram, the program involves the systematic destruction of Russian capabilities at operational depth and the expansion of medium-range strike capabilities.
Its goal is to increase pressure on Russian forces in the rear and reduce their ability to conduct offensive operations.
The ministry said the cost of Russian advances is rising sharply: in October, Russia lost 67 soldiers per 1 square kilometer (0.39 square miles) of advance, while in April this figure rose to 179 per 1 sq km (0.39 sq miles).
Overall, Russia is reportedly losing more than 35,000 soldiers killed or seriously wounded each month.
In recent months, Ukraine has quadrupled strikes on Russian logistics, warehouses, equipment, command posts, and supply routes at operational depth.
“A pattern is already visible in the dashboards: the more Russian logistics are destroyed, the fewer assault operations take place on the front line,” Fedorov said.
The Ministry of Defense said the expansion of medium-range strike capabilities is a key factor in this shift. It also noted that following the disruption of Starlink for Russian forces, Ukraine gained an additional technological advantage on the battlefield.
As part of the first stage, the ministry and General Staff allocated an additional Hr. 5 billion ($112 million) directly to military units for the purchase of modern medium-range strike equipment.
The funds are being distributed to the most effective brigades and units through the e-Bal system, targeting teams specializing in strikes at operational depth.
The first units have already received funding, and direct procurement has begun.
In the second stage, centralized tenders will be launched for large-scale purchases of strike systems.
According to the ministry, open procurement is intended to ensure faster production scaling, competition among manufacturers, reduced corruption risks, and greater transparency in public spending.
Officials expect the results of centralized procurement to become visible on the battlefield by summer.
Ukraine has significantly intensified strikes on Russian air defense systems, destroying twice as many radars and air defense assets in April as in autumn 2025, amid expanding drone production and more advanced strike capabilities.
Der Spiegel, citing WarSpotting data, reported that Ukrainian forces destroyed 37 Russian air defense, radar, and electronic warfare systems between March and May 10, compared to 16 in October 2025.
The strikes are increasingly targeting medium-range systems within 200 km (124 miles) of the front line, including Tor and Buk systems and, in some cases, S-300 platforms. Analysts say this is creating widening gaps in Russia’s air defense network, weakening both frontline logistics and rear infrastructure.
According to Der Spiegel, Ukraine conducted around 600 drone strikes on occupied territory between January and April, with heavy pressure in the south, where supply routes lie as close as 90 km (56 miles) from the front.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said the growing intensity of Ukrainian drone operations has coincided with slower Russian advances since late 2025, alongside reported shortages of air defense missiles among Russian units.
Beyond the front line, Ukrainian drones have also struck deep inside Russia, targeting oil refineries and industrial sites. Der Spiegel reported 23 attacks on oil facilities and 20 on industrial and agricultural targets in April and May.
Analysts note that even major expansion of Russian air defenses would struggle to cover the country’s vast territory spanning 11 time zones and thousands of strategic sites.