Zelenskyy says Ukraine will ramp up drone strikes in operation targeting Russia and occupied Crimea

Ukraine carried out what officials described as a large-scale drone attack on Russia and on areas of Russian-occupied Crimea, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the operation is intended to compel Moscow to end the war. In a statement reported by CBS News, Zelenskyy said Ukraine will increase the pace and scale of such strikes as part of a broader effort to pressure Russia through sustained attacks rather than a single action.

The reports centered on targets associated with Crimea, including the Kerch area, which lies on the eastern side of the peninsula facing the Kerch Strait. The CBS News account described the operation as “aimed at compelling it to end the war,” linking the renewed drone activity to Zelenskyy’s stated strategic objective rather than tactical battlefield gains alone.

Zelenskyy’s remarks also indicated that the drone campaign is not limited to the immediate operation. He said Ukraine would “ramp up” attacks on Russia, framing the next steps as an escalation in tempo and effort. That framing matters for planning and public communication, since intensified drone activity typically requires expanded air-defense readiness, civil-defense measures, and updated guidance for residents in potential strike areas.

Russian officials were not quoted in the CBS News summary provided for this story, and no specific numbers on drones used, damage assessed, or casualties were included in the available material. As with many wartime reports, details such as the extent of damage and the effectiveness of air defenses can vary between parties and are often confirmed only after further assessments.

Even without confirmed casualty or damage figures in the record here, Ukraine’s stated intent to intensify drone strikes underscores the operational focus on striking targets at distance. Drone campaigns can also affect civilian life indirectly by driving air-raid alerts, interrupting transport and industrial operations, and increasing the burden on emergency services and local infrastructure when warnings are issued.

The CBS News report ties Zelenskyy’s statement to an effort to change Russia’s incentives over time, positioning drones as a recurring tool rather than a one-off operation. In practical terms, that means the risk to shipping, ports, and other critical infrastructure in and around Crimea remains a central concern for regional security, alongside the ongoing competition between offensive drone activity and defensive measures.

As of this reporting, the available material supports Zelenskyy’s public pledge to increase attacks and confirms the reported large drone operation affecting Russia-linked areas, including occupied Crimea. Further reporting and official updates from relevant governments and military authorities would be needed to establish the full scope of targets hit, the scale of damage, and any impacts on civilians.