Military — 2026-07-11

Zelenskyy creates long-range impact command to strike Russian energy sector

BLUFFormalizing Ukraine's long-range strike campaign under a dedicated command likely produces a named leader within 30 days, though the operational tempo degrading Russian refining and shipping capacity runs independent of that appointment.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on Friday establishing a Long-Range Strike Command within the Armed Forces of Ukraine, tasked with focusing "100% of available resources" on reducing Russia's capacity to wage war, he said in his evening address 123. The decree directs the defense minister and armed forces commander-in-chief to submit a candidate for command of the new unit 3. Zelenskyy's announcement came the same day Ukraine struck the Ilsky and Ust-Luga oil refineries and an oil terminal and depot in Rostov region, according to Ukraine's general staff 12. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Ukraine hit 10 tankers in the Sea of Azov among nearly 50 fuel vessels damaged in the preceding five days 12, while Reuters industry sources reported Russia has since halted shipping through the Don-Azov Channel, which carries roughly a quarter of Russia's wheat exports 2.

Analysis
Zelenskyy's decree likely produces a submitted command candidate within the next 30 days, since the directive assigns responsibility directly to the defense minister and commander-in-chief with no room to defer selection. This judgment carries high confidence, resting on the decree's explicit institutional assignment of accountability and an already-operating strike tempo against refineries and Azov shipping that signals the campaign functions ahead of formal command structure. The new command formalizes rather than launches long-range strikes, consolidating authority over an effort already degrading Russian refining capacity and shrinking Moscow's shadow tanker fleet. Bureaucratic appointment trails the operational campaign, which continues independent of who is ultimately named to lead it.
4 sources
  1. Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy creates 'long-range impact' command to strike Russian energy sector - The Guardian
  2. Ukraine Creates 'Long-Range' Command to Step up Strikes on Russia - Reuters
  3. Long-Range Strike Command to be established within Ukrainian Armed Forces - Ukrainska Pravda
  4. Zelensky Signs Decree Creating New Long-Range Strike, Rapid Response Commands - Kyiv Post

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