Ukraine’s military announced on Saturday that it had carried out strikes on multiple infrastructure targets inside Russia, including a major oil refinery and a military airfield.
According to a statement from Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), the Ryazan oil refinery, located about 180 km southeast of Moscow, was hit and suffered a fire as a result. The USF also reported striking the Annanefteprodukt oil storage facility in the Voronezh region, which lies near the northeastern border with Ukraine.
Ukraine Expands Long-Range Drone Strikes, Targeting Key Russian Military and Industrial Sites
While the Ukrainian statement did not clarify the exact methods used, the USF specializes in drone warfare and long-range attacks, suggesting that drones were likely used.
Additionally, Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency reported that it had targeted the Primorsko-Akhtarsk military airfield, a site from which Russia launches long-range drones into Ukraine. The SBU also said a drone strike hit an electronics factory in Penza, which it claims supports Russia’s military-industrial production.
Ukraine’s ability to strike deep inside Russian territory marks a notable shift in its military capabilities since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Initially lacking the means to counter Russia’s long-range assaults, Ukraine has since developed a fleet of long-range kamikaze drones capable of traveling hundreds of kilometers with explosive payloads. These developments signal a strategic evolution in Ukraine’s defense and offensive posture.
Drone Warfare Intensifies as Russia Gains Ground in Eastern Ukraine Amid Heavy Fighting
Russia’s defense ministry reported that it had shot down 338 Ukrainian drones overnight, although it did not specify how many had been launched in total. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force claimed to have downed 45 out of 53 Russian drones targeting its own territory in the same timeframe. These figures highlight the intensifying drone warfare on both sides of the conflict.
On the ground in eastern Ukraine, Russia’s defense ministry claimed that Russian forces captured the village of Oleksandro-Kalynove in the Donetsk region. While this report could not be independently verified, it underscores ongoing heavy fighting. Currently, Russian forces control nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory in the east and south after more than three years of sustained conflict.
