In a significant escalation, Ukraine launched drone attacks on oil facilities in western Russia on Wednesday.
This marks the latest attempt by Kyiv to disrupt Moscow’s military operations through aerial assaults.
The attacks, confirmed by Ukrainian defense sources, targeted energy infrastructure in the Smolensk and Lipetsk regions.
Regional governors in both areas acknowledged the strikes but downplayed any casualties or damage to residential areas.
However, a Ukrainian defense source claimed responsibility for the attacks and stated that two oil depots belonging to the Russian energy giant Rosneft were destroyed in Smolensk.
This claim could not be independently verified.
The source further asserted that the targeted facilities stored large quantities of fuel and that Ukraine would continue such attacks, viewing them as legitimate targets in response to Russia’s systematic assaults on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
This development signifies a potential turning point in the war. Ukraine’s ability to strike targets hundreds of kilometers within Russian territory demonstrates a more offensive drone capability.
It remains to be seen how Russia will respond to these deeper strikes and whether they will have a significant impact on its military operations.
