Kathmandu | Ukraine launched a coordinated high-precision strike on several major Russian energy facilities on Thursday, utilizing British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles and domestically produced long-range drones. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that the primary target was the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region. According to military reports, the refinery—a critical supplier of diesel and jet fuel for Russian forces operating in Ukraine—was rocked by “multiple powerful explosions.” This attack marks a significant escalation in Kyiv’s campaign to cripple the logistical support and fuel supply lines that sustain Moscow’s military operations in the southern theater of the war.
In addition to the missile strike in Rostov, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) deployed its latest generation of long-range drones to hit energy targets deep within Russian territory. One of the most ambitious strikes targeted the Orenburg gas processing plant, located approximately 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Known as one of the world’s largest gas chemical complexes, the facility reportedly saw gas ignite on a major pipeline rack, leading to a temporary suspension of technological processes. Simultaneously, Ukrainian drones struck the seaport of Temryuk in the Krasnodar region, where two large oil product reservoirs were set ablaze. Russian regional authorities confirmed the fires at the port, stating that emergency crews were deployed to battle flames covering an area of nearly 2,000 square meters.
These operations are part of a broader, strategic effort by Ukraine to drain the Kremlin’s war chest by targeting its primary revenue source: the oil and gas industry. By successfully striking facilities as far away as Orenburg, Ukraine has demonstrated an increased capability to bypass Russian air defenses and project force deep into the Russian interior. While Russian officials have acknowledged “minor damage” and fires at several industrial sites, Ukrainian defense officials maintain that these systematic strikes will continue until the Russian Federation’s ability to fund and fuel its invasion is significantly degraded.
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