Zelensky approves new long-range strikes on Russia, says Ukraine preparing to expand capabilities
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on September 19 that he had approved new long-range strike operations against Russian territory in response to Russian attacks on Ukraine. The decision followed briefings from Defense Minister Yevheniia Khmara and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi, and Zelensky said Ukraine is preparing to expand its long-range capabilities.
Key points
- Zelensky approved new long-range strikes on Russian territory, announced on September 19 via his Telegram channel.
- The decision followed briefings from Defense Minister Yevheniia Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi.
- Zelensky said Ukraine is preparing to expand its long-range capabilities.
- The strikes are framed as a retaliatory response to Russian attacks on Ukraine.
- On June 25 Zelensky approved a 40-day operation of influence aimed at compelling Russia to end the war.
- On August 4 the SBU reported striking more than 100 strategic objects in Russia and on temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory during that 40-day operation.
- Trump has publicly urged Zelensky to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, citing an alleged diesel fuel deficit.
Why it matters
The announcement signals an escalation of Ukraine's long-range campaign against Russian military, oil, and industrial targets deep inside Russia. It comes despite reported US pressure, with Trump publicly urging Zelensky to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries. Zelensky framed the strikes as retaliation for Russian attacks on Ukraine and tied them to an earlier 40-day operation targeting strategic Russian sites.
What happened
On September 19, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced via his Telegram channel that he had approved new long-range strike operations against Russia in response to Russian attacks on Ukraine. The decision came after briefings from Defense Minister Yevheniia Khmara and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi. Zelensky stated that Ukraine is preparing to expand its long-range capabilities. He also discussed with Drapatyi further priorities for active actions on the front, updating management approaches in the Medical Forces command following a leadership change, and updating the regulatory framework for recruiting foreign volunteers to serve in Ukraine's Defense Forces. Zelensky separately thanked Ukrainian weapons developers and engineers working on countermeasures against reactive Shahed drones, saying several developments had already proven effective through real combat use.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All six supplied sources are Ukrainian-language media outlets covering Zelensky's announcement in a uniformly positive, declarative register. They emphasize approval of the new long-range operations and the expansion of long-range capabilities as a direct response to Russian strikes, and frame the strikes as legitimate retaliation and a means of reducing Russia's ability to wage war. The Ukrainian coverage centers Zelensky, Defense Minister Yevheniia Khmara, and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi as the decision-makers.
Where reporting differs
US President Donald Trump publicly stated that Zelensky should stop attacks on Russian oil refineries, citing an alleged diesel fuel deficit. Zelensky, by contrast, announced approval of new long-range strikes and said Ukraine is preparing to expand its long-range capabilities. The two positions are in direct tension, with Trump urging restraint on energy-sector targets while Zelensky is expanding the long-range campaign.
Background
On June 25, Zelensky approved a 40-day operation of influence on Russia aimed at compelling an end to the war. On August 4, the SBU reported that during that operation it had struck more than 100 strategic objects in Russia and on temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory, as well as more than 21,000 targets on the front line. Reported targets in the earlier operation included Russian airfields (Saky, Gvardiyske, Belbek, Bagerove, Engels, Khanskaya, and the Yevpatoriya aviation plant), air-defense assets (Nebo-U radar, S-400 radars, Tor-M2 and Pantsir-S2 systems, and Pole-21 EW complex), 14 oil refineries and dozens of oil depots and pumping stations, shadow-fleet tankers, and two cargo vessels under international sanctions. Trump recently stated that Zelensky should stop attacks on Russian oil refineries because, according to Trump, they cause a diesel fuel deficit.