Ukrainian naval forces carried out precision strikes inside Russian territory using Neptune cruise missiles, targeting the Orlovskaya thermal power plant in Oryol Oblast and the Novobryansk electrical substation in Bryansk Oblast, the Ukrainian Navy reported.

The strikes highlight Ukraine’s expanding ability to strike critical infrastructure deep inside Russia, targeting energy facilities that sustain military operations. By disrupting power to key military enterprises, Kyiv aims to degrade Russian logistical capacity and hinder their operational effectiveness.

Both facilities supply electricity to Russian military enterprises, making their destruction a significant disruption to enemy logistics and operations.

The Navy emphasized that the operation demonstrates Ukraine’s growing ability to strike critical infrastructure far from the frontlines. "Ukrainian forces continue to show that no enemy rear is safe," the military statement said.

The strike follows a series of Ukrainian attacks on energy and logistics hubs in recent months, aimed at weakening Russia’s capacity to sustain military operations and disrupt supply chains across multiple regions.

Ukraine's Neptune missile: from anti-ship to deep-strike weapon 

Ukraine's Neptune cruise missile has evolved from a ship-killer into a precision deep-strike weapon. Originally designed as an anti-ship missile based on the Soviet Kh-35, the R-360 Neptune gained international recognition in April 2022 when two missiles sank the Russian cruiser Moskva - the Black Sea Fleet's flagship and one of Moscow's most significant naval losses of the war. 

Ukrainian engineers have since extended the missile's range from an initial 300-400 kilometers to 1,000 kilometers in the "Long Neptune" variant, transforming it into a weapon capable of striking deep inside Russian territory. The missile carries a 150-260 kg warhead and uses satellite navigation combined with radar or infrared seekers for terminal guidance.

Recent Neptune strikes demonstrate Ukraine's expanding ability to target Russia's military-industrial infrastructure far beyond the frontlines.

In September 2025, four Neptune missiles struck the Elektrodetal plant in Russia's Bryansk Oblast at a range exceeding 240 kilometers - a facility that supplies components to more than 1,500 enterprises in Russia's defense industry. 

The Ukrainian Navy, which operates the Neptune system, has struck over 50 Russian targets in the past year alone, including ammunition depots and energy infrastructure. 

The latest strikes on the Orlovskaya thermal power plant and Novobryansk substation continue this pattern of targeting energy facilities that power Russian military enterprises - a tactic Ukraine has used repeatedly to disrupt logistics and operations supporting Moscow's invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected claims that Ukraine has used US long-range missiles to hit deep within the Russian territory. The statement came after a Wall Street Journal report alleged that the US lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s use of certain Western weapons for strikes on Russia.

Ukrainian President denies using US weapons for strikes inside Russia

Speaking from the sidelines of the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels on 23 October, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has never launched American long-range weapons at targets deep inside Russia. During a briefing in Brussels, he responded to a journalist’s question about the WSJ article that claimed the US administration had removed limits on using Western missiles against Russia, citing an attack on Russia’s Bryansk Oblast.

“I don’t know who wrote what,” Zelenskyy said. “We never used American weapons for long-range strikes on very important targets in Russia. That’s important.”

He clarified that Ukraine did use various long-range systems, but only in areas of active combat or against Russian forces preparing to launch operations.

Now, President Zelenskyy also stressed that equating attacks on occupied Ukrainian territory with strikes on Russia was incorrect.

“Crimea and the East are Ukraine, and we cannot talk about using any weapon, not even domestically produced ones, against Crimea as if it were Russian territory,” he said. “No, it’s temporarily occupied territory.”

Ukraine turns to its own long-range weapons

Zelenskyy said Ukraine now uses domestically produced long-range systems. These include capabilities ranging from 150 kilometers to 3,000 kilometers. According to him, the key challenge is not technology, but scaling up production.

“The issue is how to get additional funding to mass-produce the long-range capabilities we have,” he explained.

He also referenced Russia’s frozen assets, stating that it was important for Ukraine to access some of those funds to support its weapons manufacturing, as well as European and other allied defense industries.

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) struck on June 28 the 1060th Material-Technical Support Center in the city of Bryansk, Ukraine's General Staff said.

The facilities store a Russian missile and drone arsenal, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing a source in HUR.

Local residents reported hearing explosions and gun fire throughout the morning of June 28. Pictures posted on social media show smoke billowing from the area of where the centre, formerly the the 120th arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate, is located in an industrial area in the southern part of the city.

The General Staff said it was assessing the strike as extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

Bryansk Oblast Governor Alexander Bogomaz acknowledged a drone attack on the region overnight claiming that four civilians were injured in the attack, damaging ten homes and a vehicle.

Later in the morning, Bogomaz claimed that all the drones had been downed by Russian air defense unit in a separate attack, claiming that no damage had been inflicted. He did not mention the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate in his comments.

The Kyiv Independent cannot immediately verify the reports or claims made by Russian officials.

Bryansk Oblast, located in Russia's far-west, borders Ukraine's Chernihiv and Sumy Oblast, and has been the target of various Ukrainian strikes.

Ukraine's military regularly conducts strikes onto Russian and Russian-occupied territory.

Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck the Kirovske military airfield in occupied Crimea overnight on June 28, the SBU told the Kyiv Independent. The attack destroyed Mi-8, Mi-26 and Mi-28 attack helicopters, and a Pantsyr-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun system, the SBU claimed.

Ukrainian drone strike on Crimea air base destroys 3 Russian helicopters, SBU claims

The attack destroyed Mi-8, Mi-26 and Mi-28 attack helicopters, and a Pantsyr-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun system, the Security Service of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova