According to russian outlet Agentstvo. Novosti, cited by Espreso, the Kremlin dictator putin has largely avoided russia's European regions since resuming regional visits in June. Instead, he has increasingly traveled to Siberia and other remote areas, where Ukrainian strikes have been less frequent.
Ukrainian drones are reaching deeper into russia
Ukraine significantly expanded its long-range strike capabilities in 2026. Drones such as the FP-1 and Liutyi, as well as missile drones such as the Flamingo, can now reportedly reach targets 1,500–2,000 km or more from Ukraine.
Read more: Ukraine Strikes russia's Largest Oil Refinery in Omsk, Setting New Long-Range Record of More Than 2,500 km
Ukrainian strikes have been reported not only in russia’s border regions and around Moscow, but also as far east as Omsk, Tyumen, Yekaterinburg and other locations in Siberia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukrainian drones have already hit targets as far as 2,070 km away, with the range expected to eventually reach 3,000 km.
The scale of the campaign is significant. russian regional authorities claim that more than 37,000 Ukrainian drones were shot down over russia and occupied Crimea during the first half of 2026 alone, more than in the previous three years combined.
Nighttime attacks can involve hundreds of drones. Major targets include oil refineries, logistics hubs, ammunition and military facilities, as well as other critical infrastructure. The attacks have contributed to fuel shortages, rising gasoline prices and disruptions to air traffic.
The war that the Kremlin promised would remain outside russian territory has long since reached deep inside the country.
putin’s 2026 travel pattern took a sharp turn east
Until June 2026, Putin had rarely traveled beyond Moscow, St. Petersburg and Valdai, where his main residences are located. His last major regional trip before the pause was to Samara in November 2025. The break lasted 223 days.
On June 17, putin finally resumed regional travel with a visit to Kazan for the russia-ASEAN summit. It was his only visit to European russia, apart from his main residences, after regional travel resumed.
Kazan was placed under unusually tight security. Security forces were brought in from other regions, restrictions were imposed on electric scooters, and residents were warned about possible communications disruptions. Tatarstan has repeatedly been targeted by Ukrainian drones.
After Kazan, putin’s itinerary shifted sharply east:
July 24: Irkutsk, where he visited an aircraft plant.
July 25: Omsk, where he met Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and attended a regional cooperation forum.
August 3: an unannounced visit to Krasnoyarsk Krai.
According to local media cited by Espreso, Novosibirsk could be putin’s next destination. If confirmed, it would be the fifth region he has visited since resuming regional travel, with only Kazan located in European russia.
Most of the regions putin has visited this summer have either not been targeted by Ukrainian strikes or have experienced them far less frequently than European russia.
What does putin’s eastward shift mean?
The change in the Kremlin dictator putin’s travel pattern is more than a logistical detail.
First, it suggests that personal security has become a serious consideration for the russian president. After russian authorities claimed that drones had attacked putin’s residence in Valdai in December 2025, a claim denied by Ukraine and questioned by independent sources, security around the president was reportedly tightened.
Second, the pattern suggests that Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign is having effects beyond direct physical damage. Ukrainian attacks are putting pressure on russia’s energy and logistics infrastructure while also forcing the Kremlin to account for the growing geographical reach of Ukrainian weapons.
Third, russia’s air defense has to cover an enormous territory. Protecting Moscow, St. Petersburg and key military and industrial facilities requires the deployment of air-defense assets across a vast area. Siberia remains comparatively less exposed, making it a more practical destination for putin’s domestic travel.
Analysts have warned for months that Ukraine’s long-range strikes are forcing russia to spread its air-defense resources across an increasingly large area. putin’s own travel pattern may now offer another indication of that pressure.
Read more: New Details Emerge on Strikes Against Tuapse and Yaroslavl Oil Refineries in russia
