Ukraine Claims Strikes on Russian Oil and Military Infrastructure

On Saturday, Ukraine's military announced it had conducted strikes on several oil facilities within Russia. These targets included a significant refinery, a military airfield used for drones, and an electronics factory.

The Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine reported hitting an oil refinery located in Ryazan, approximately 180 kilometers southeast of Moscow. The strike resulted in a fire at the facility. Additionally, the USF claimed to have targeted the Annanefteprodukt oil storage facility in the Voronezh region, which borders northeastern Ukraine. The statement did not provide details on the method of attack, but the USF specializes in drone warfare, including long-range strikes. Russia has not yet commented on these reported attacks.

Separately, Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency stated that its drones had targeted the Primorsko-Akhtarsk military airfield in Russia. This airfield has been used to launch long-range drones against Ukrainian targets. The SBU also reported striking a factory in Penza, which it claimed supplies electronics to Russia's military-industrial complex.

Ukraine's ability to conduct these strikes represents a significant shift. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine lacked the capacity to respond to Russia's long-range strike capabilities. However, it has since developed a fleet of long-range kamikaze drones capable of carrying explosive warheads over hundreds of kilometers.

Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry reported that its defense units had intercepted 338 Ukrainian drones overnight. Ukraine's air force, in turn, reported downing 45 of 53 Russian drones launched towards its territory.

On the eastern front, Russia's defense ministry announced the capture of the village of Oleksandro-Kalynove in the Donetsk region. This report has not been independently verified. Russian forces currently control nearly 20 percent of Ukraine's territory in the east and south.