Ukraine hits Russian Arctic gas plants in deepest drone strike of war

Ukrainian special forces have hit two natural gas facilities in the Russian Arctic, launching their deepest-ever drone strike more than 3,000 kilometres from the border.

The strike targeted processing plants in Novy Urengoy—widely regarded as Russia's gas capital—and the neighbouring Purovsky district in the Yamalo-Nenets region. The area is the heart of Russia's energy economy, responsible for about 80 per cent of the country's natural gas production.

Dmitry Artyukhov, the regional governor, confirmed the attack, stating that air defences had intercepted the drones but falling debris had ignited a fire. No casualties were reported at the sites. Unverified footage on social media showed thick plumes of black smoke rising over the Novy Urengoy plant.

What weapons were used?

Fire Point, the Ukrainian manufacturer of the long-range FP-1 drones used in the raid, celebrated the mission online. The pink, six-metre-wide drones travel at speeds of up to 180 kilometres per hour and cost less than $60,000 each to produce.

Previously, the furthest these low-cost weapons had struck was an oil refinery in Omsk, some 2,500 kilometres away. The Arctic strike proves Kyiv can now bypass thousands of kilometres of Russian air defences to hit previously secure assets.

Why the Arctic?

The attack represents a significant leap in Kyiv's ability to threaten Russia's lucrative energy infrastructure, which funds its war effort. The Yamalo-Nenets region holds about two-thirds of Russia's gas reserves and 13 per cent of its oil reserves.

It also comes at a sensitive time for European energy markets. Wholesale gas prices in Europe rose above €80 per megawatt-hour this week—their highest level since 2023—amid broader anxieties over global supply chains and low winter reserves.

The domestic toll

Yet while Kyiv is proving it can strike deep into Russian territory, Ukrainian cities continue to bear the brunt of devastating Russian bombardments.

A Russian drone strike on a shopping centre in the northern city of Sumy killed two people and injured 20 others, according to the local governor. In Kyiv, another drone struck an apartment building, killing one person and injuring four. Attacks were also reported in Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Zhytomyr.

Further east, Russia is intensifying its pressure on the Ukrainian-held "fortress belt" in the Donbas region. In cities like Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, residents are facing almost daily attacks from devastating glide bombs, which can weigh up to 1,500 kilograms. Local police reported that the number of civilian casualties has risen sharply over the summer, prompting forced evacuations of families.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defended the deep-strike strategy as "completely justified" and urged Western allies to take stronger action against Moscow.

"Moscow must not go into the winter believing that it can get away with missile and drone terror without consequences," Zelenskyy said, calling for more effective sanctions and air defence support.