Azov vows to reclaim Mariupol as drone war intensifies against Russia

They defended Mariupol - now Azov is ready for round two against Putin's forces

Four years after the fall of Mariupol, the Ukrainian military unit that became the city’s most famous defender says it is preparing for a long fight to take it back.

The rebuilt Azov formation has launched a new campaign of drone strikes targeting Russian infrastructure in and around the occupied port city, signalling a sharp escalation in its operations against Moscow’s forces.

Mariupol’s Defenders Return to the Fight

Azov became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance during the 2022 siege of Mariupol, when fighters held out for months against overwhelming Russian firepower. Hundreds were killed or captured before the city ultimately fell.

Now the unit has been reconstituted and is back on the offensive. Recent strikes reportedly hit electrical substations and repair facilities linked to the port, disrupting infrastructure used by Russian forces.

A Campaign Measured in Years, Not Weeks

Colonel Arsen Dmitrik, chief of staff of the 1st Azov Corps, said the mission is not being planned on a short timeline.

Speaking after his release from Russian captivity, Dmitrik said the unit is prepared to spend years preparing for an eventual return to Mariupol. The goal, he said, remains unchanged despite the passage of time.

Ukraine Targets Russia’s Southern Lifelines

The strikes form part of a broader Ukrainian effort to disrupt Russian logistics across occupied southern Ukraine.

Drone operators have increasingly focused on fuel convoys and supply routes, including the M14 highway linking key occupied territories. Analysts say the attacks are designed to create cumulative pressure rather than deliver a single decisive blow.

Crimea Next in the Crosshairs

Ukrainian commanders are also looking beyond Mariupol. Drone force commander Robert Brovdi has said Ukraine intends to isolate Crimea by targeting critical transport corridors feeding Russian operations on the peninsula.

To carry out those missions, units are relying on increasingly sophisticated technology, including upgraded Western-made drones and satellite communications systems that extend operational range.

Moscow Faces a War of Attrition

For Russia, the challenge is no longer confined to the front line. Supply networks, fuel deliveries and transport routes are becoming targets across a widening battlefield.

For Azov’s fighters, the campaign is about more than logistics. It is about returning to the city where their resistance became legendary—and proving that the battle for Mariupol is not over.

They defended Mariupol - now Azov is ready for round two against Putin's forces