KYIV ¨C Four years after Ukraine¡¯s Azov Regiment surrendered the ?last corner of the devastated city of Mariupol to Russian forces, the rebuilt unit is setting its sights on making Moscow pay for its occupation.

That bitter defeat in May 2022 ¡ª when hundreds of its fighters were killed or captured ¡ª turned Azov into a symbol of endurance in Ukraine and paved the way for its return as a bigger and more powerful force. Now, it is once again focusing on its home city on the Azov Sea.

Drones belonging to First Corps Azov streaked across the sky above the city¡¯s strategic seaport last week in an operation that targeted electrical substations, repair facilities and a sanctioned ship and plunged the port into a blackout, according to Kyiv¡¯s military.

Reuters was able to confirm the location of parts of a video of the attack ?posted by the corps.

The attack was part of Ukraine¡¯s expanding strike campaign targeting Russian military logistics deep behind the front line, in a bid to grind down Moscow¡¯s war machine and swing the war in Kyiv¡¯s favour.

Col. Arsen Dmytryk, First ?Corps Azov¡¯s ?chief of staff, told Reuters there would be dozens more such operations to showcase the unit¡¯s capabilities, technology and planning.

Driving Russia out of Mariupol, which lies 120 km (75 miles) behind front lines ?that are barely budging, is a ¡°long game¡°, he conceded.

¡°If it takes 20 years, we will spend 20 years planning, waiting, preparing,¡± said Dmytryk, 32, who was among those captured by Russia then later freed. ¡°But when the time comes, we must be ready. I believe we will return it (Mariupol).

¡°It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡±

Russia¡¯s defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The port strike, carried out with Ukraine¡¯s drone forces and the SBU security service, hit just ?a few miles from the ravaged steel mill where Azov fighters and other troops were ordered by Kyiv to end their defense after Moscow¡¯s three-month siege of the city.

It followed months of strikes on critical roadways across Russian-occupied parts of the eastern Donetsk region, including in Mariupol, ?in a systemic effort to disrupt Russian supply lines to the front.

Footage posted by the corps captures its operations: in an April 16 video, drones soar over broad fields and long highways around Donetsk, before careering into bulky army vehicles.

Another post on May 8 features drone-view footage sweeping over central Mariupol and the heavily damaged Azovstal Iron and Steel Works, the site of the Ukrainian garrison¡¯s last stand in 2022.

¡°Azov is already ?patrolling its home city of Mariupol. From the skies ¡ª for now,¡± it said.

Today the ?city...