NIAS Europe Studies

EM COMMENT

Photo Source:
   NIAS Course on Global Politics
National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
For any further information or to subscribe to GP alerts send an email to subachandran@nias.res.in

CWA # 2239, 13 August 2026
CW Note
The War in Ukraine:

  Lekshmi MK

In the news
On 03 August, The Moscow Time reported on Ukraine launching a large-scale drone attack on Russia and occupied Crimea, targeting logistics facilities, including Wildberries warehouses in the Vladimir and Samara regions. Russian officials reported 11 casualties following Ukrainian drone strikes in occupied Crimea and southern Russia. 

On 04 August, Reuters reported that Russia launched one of its largest missile and drone attacks on the Kyiv region, killing 14 people and damaging warehouses and critical infrastructure. Ukraine continued its long-range strike campaign against Russian military logistics and accused Russia of committing a war crime after footage showed a Russian drone attacking a civilian vendor in Kherson.

On 05 August, The Guardian reported on Russia launching a major missile and drone barrage on Kyiv, killing 17 people and damaging civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian drones struck a major Wildberries logistics hub in the Tula region, which Kyiv said was part of Russia’s military logistics network.  

Issues at large
1. Ukraine’s expanding deep-strike campaign against Russia
Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone and missile strikes against targets deep inside Russia, including military airfields, logistics hubs, fuel depots and the warehouse, which Kyiv claims supports Russia’s military supply chain. While Ukraine has conducted deep strikes since 2023, recent attacks indicate a sustained expansion of this strategy. In June 2025, Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web targeted multiple Russian strategic airbases hundreds of kilometres from the frontline, damaging long-range bomber aircraft. In August 2026, Ukrainian drones struck Wildberries logistics facilities and military-linked infrastructure in several Russian regions and occupied Crimea. These attacks reflect a shift in Ukraine’s military strategy from primarily defending the frontlines to disrupting Russia’s ability to sustain the war. By targeting logistics and industrial infrastructure, Ukraine seeks to weaken Russia’s operational capacity, increase the costs of the war. It also tries to force Moscow to redeploy air defence systems to protect critical infrastructure inside its territory. 

2. Crimea as Ukraine’s primary strategic target
Crimea has remained a central objective of Ukraine since Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014 and has been consistently targeted since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. However, the frequency of Ukrainian strikes has increased as Kyiv has acquired longer-range drones and missiles. Crimea holds immense strategic value for Russia. Militarily, it hosts the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet, major naval facilities at Sevastopol, key airbases such as Belbek and Saky, and logistics hubs supporting Russian operations in southern Ukraine. Strategically, the peninsula provides Russia with military dominance in the Black Sea and serves as a vital corridor connecting southern Russia with occupied territories in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Politically, Crimea is a symbol of Russia’s 2014 annexation and remains central to President Putin’s narrative of restoring Russian territory. 

Ukraine carried out multiple drone and missile strikes on occupied Crimea, targeting military infrastructure and logistics facilities. These attacks are intended to degrade Russia’s military capabilities, complicate logistics and reduce the peninsula’s role as a secure operational base. The strikes also reinforce Kyiv’s position that Crimea remains an integral part of Ukraine despite its annexation.

3. Escalation of attacks on military and civilian targets
Recent attacks by both Russia and Ukraine have increasingly involved targets beyond the immediate battlefield. While Russia continues missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, Ukraine has targeted facilities such as the Wildberries warehouse, arguing that they contribute to Russia’s military logistics. However, Russia describes such facilities as civilian infrastructure. Between 03 and 05 August, Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities killed 17 civilians and injured dozens more, while damaging residential buildings, warehouses and critical infrastructure. During the same period, Ukraine struck Wildberries logistics centres and other facilities that it identified as supporting Russia’s war effort. This growing overlap between civilian and military functions raises competing claims over what constitutes a legitimate military target.

What does it mean?
First, Ukraine is shifting the war beyond the frontlines. Ukraine’s expanding deep-strike campaign signals a shift from defending frontline positions to targeting Russia’s military and logistical infrastructure deep inside its territory. By attacking these facilities, Kyiv aims to weaken Russia’s ability to sustain military operations while increasing the costs of the war.

Second, Crimea is likely to remain one of the principal theatres of long-range warfare. The peninsula’s strategic location, military infrastructure and political significance make it central to both sides’ objectives. As Ukraine expands its long-range strike capabilities, attacks on Crimea are likely to remain a recurring feature of the war.

Third, drones and missiles are redefining the character of the war. Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to strike deep inside Russia. Meanwhile, Russia continues to employ large-scale missile and drone attacks against Ukraine. As both sides continue to improve their long-range strike capabilities, drones and missiles are likely to shape military strategy.

Print Bookmark

PREVIOUS COMMENT

CW Note
August 2026 | CWA # 2237

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS.

The Ceuta Migration Crisis:
TWTW Note
August 2026 | CWA # 2223

Yesasvi Koganti | Yesasvi Koganti is an undergraduate scholar at the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai. She is also a Research Intern at NIAS, Bengaluru.

President Zelenskyy's visit to the US:
TWTW Note
July 2026 | CWA # 2201

Akshath Kaimal | Akshath Kaimal is a postgraduate in International Studies and International Humanitarian Action. He is currently a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and is part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader team.

Ten Years and Seven Prime Ministers in the UK:
TWTW Note
July 2026 | CWA # 2186

Lekshmi MK | Lekshmi MK is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru. 

NATO Summit 2026:
CW Note
July 2026 | CWA # 2181

Padmashree Anandhan | Padmashree Anandhan is a Project Associate at NIAS

The War in Ukraine:
The World This Quarter
June 2026 | CWA # 2166

Ramya B | Ramya B is an Associate Professor at the Department of History, Kristu Jayanti Deemed to be University, Bengaluru

Russia (April-June 2026)
The World This Quarter
June 2026 | CWA # 2165

Himani Pant | Dr Himani Pant is a Research Fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi

Europe (April-June 2026)
CW Note
June 2026 | CWA # 2160

Radhika M Agarwal | Radhika M Agarwal is a postgraduate student at the Department of Politics and International Relations in Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar.

The War in Ukraine:
TWTW Takeaways
June 2026 | CWA # 2154

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS.

The G7 Summit 2026
CW Note
June 2026 | CWA # 2150

Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella | Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She is currently an intern at NIAS. 

The War in Ukraine:
CW Column
May 2026 | CWA # 2122

Radhika M Agarwal | Radhika M Agarwal is a postgraduate student at the Department of Politics and International Relations in Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar.

The War in Ukraine:
Peace and Conflicts This Quarter (January–March 2026)
April 2026 | CWA # 2069

Padmashree Anandhan

The War in Ukraine
The World This Quarter 
April 2026 | CWA # 2063

Ramya B | Ramya B is an Associate Professor at the Department of History, Kristu Jayanti University, Bengaluru

Russia (Jan-Mar 2026)
The World This Quarter 
April 2026 | CWA # 2062

Himani Pant | Dr Himani Pant is a Research Fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi

Europe (Jan-Mar 2026)
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1689

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
The War in Ukraine
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
Europe: Heatwaves, Wildfires, Droughts, and Ice Melt in Alps
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts