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'SSU is one of the leaders among Defense Forces in long-range strikes. We've hit over 200 targets deep inside russia' - Vasyl Maliuk

Security Service of Ukraine

21:35, 12 August 2025

The Security Service of Ukraine is one of the leaders among the Defense Forces in terms of deep strikes - long-range strikes using unmanned systems. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Service has struck over 200 targets deep inside russian territory. The Head of the SSU, Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk informed about this in an interview with We Are Ukraine (My - Ukraina) TV Channel during the United News telethon.

'First and foremost, we think about how to work effectively in the interests of the front and support the soldiers who are on the front lines. We have already hit over 200 russian targets deep behind the enemy line: this includes military-industrial complex, logistics and command posts. We are also targeting the oil and gas industry, which feeds their ministry of defense with dirty rubles. The SSU Special Operations Center 'A' is very successful in this area. It is essentially the flagship of this type of air operation, not only within the Service, but overall in Ukraine. This work is ongoing,' Vasyl Maliuk emphasized.

Among the examples of successful strikes that had a major impact on the situation at the front, the SSU Head mentioned the strike on an enemy ammunition depot in the village of Toropets, where half of all the russian 120-mm mines were destroyed in a single operation.

'There were 160 000 tons of enemy ammunition, half of all reserves of 120 mm mines. It was a huge success! We used 120 drones, and another 20 drones were launched together with us by other Defense Forces units. Here, as in many other matters, the main thing is our unity. And when the SSU, the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Defense Intelligence, the Special Operations Forces, the Foreign Intelligence, and the Border Guards join forces, together we carry out unique operations,' said Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk.

The SSU Head added that the Service is actively involved in direct combat operations across the entire front line.

'We work on the front line all the time, along the entire line of combat, on a rotational basis. These are various operations: general military ops, work in small tactical groups, and counter-sabotage work,' Vasyl Maliuk informed.

Among other things, SSU units are using the latest combat tactics, including unique drone assault operations. One of the first examples of its use was the SSU's special operation in Kursk.

'Last year, there was an assault on a company stronghold in Kursk, near the village of Sverdlikovo. There were over a hundred russian soldiers there. There were Kadyrovites, officers, and other quite well-trained enemy personnel. First, we conducted drone preparation: we flew our drones into every opening of this company stronghold. We also worked with ground-based robotic systems, and then the servicemen went to assault in small groups, over which our FPVs were also hovering. As soon as there was a threat and fire contact, we immediately struck with these drones,' said Vasyl Maliuk.

According to him, 102 russian servicemen were captured during this assault, and more than 20 were killed.

The Security Service is now actively conducting such drone assault operations across the entire front line.

'Even this week, if we talk about Pokrovsk direction, it so happened that the enemy infiltrated in small groups and entered the city. The ruscists call this a 'small cuts tactic'. They simply scatter in cellars and houses, and we respond with counter-sabotage operations. Every corner must be searched, and if the enemy is detected, they must be neutralized. Our teams carried out the necessary work and achieved results: many scoundrels were destroyed and taken prisoner,' noted the Lieutenant General.

He also pointed out that not only the Special Operations Center is directly involved in combat and deep strikes, but also the personnel of other units of the Service: Main Directorates 'D' and 'I', Cyber Security Department, Counterintelligence and Military Counterintelligence, and regional offices of the Service.

The Head of the Service reminded that the SSU Special Operations Center 'A' regularly ranks among the top three units of the Defense Forces in terms of destroying enemy manpower and equipment using UAVs. Therefore, the Verkhovna Rada and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi decided to scale up this experience by increasing the strength of the SSU Special Operations Center 'A' to 10 000.

'We must understand that today our country must become a 'steel porcupine'. This applies to personnel, air defense, robotic systems, etc. Therefore, increasing the Alfa unit's number will automatically increase the number of enemy equipment and personnel destroyed,' concluded the SSU Chief Vasyl Maliuk.