Major Drone Attack on Russian Targets
(AP) – Russian air defense reported that 660 Ukrainian drones were intercepted during a significant nighttime strike across 12 Russian regions, as well as in Crimea and the Black Sea area. This operation is possibly among the largest drone assaults on Russia and the annexed Crimea since the onset of the full-scale invasion over four years ago. Previously, the biggest attack recorded in the past year occurred on May 17, involving 556 drones.
In recent months, Ukraine’s long-range drones have been targeting oil and energy facilities well behind the front lines, aiming to shift the momentum in Russia’s ongoing war. Officials and analysts from the West contend that these operations have disrupted Russian fuel supplies and munitions, hampering military actions and increasing pressure on President Vladimir Putin.
After the nighttime assaults, preliminary damage reports from Russia were rather vague. Typically, Russia’s Ministry of Defense does not disclose the targets hit by Ukrainian drone strikes or provide specifics on the damage incurred.
Ukrainian intelligence indicated that drones were utilized to target Russian naval vessels and air defense installations in the crucial port city of Kerch in Crimea.
According to the agency, the assault focused on two reconnaissance ships, the Volga and Vyatka, as well as a passenger and cargo ferry named Petropavlovsk, claiming the attack sparked a significant fire. However, this assertion remains unverified from independent sources.
The extensive strike closely followed remarks from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who announced on X about a “40-day influence operation” aimed at pressuring Russia to cease hostilities after U.S. peace attempts over the previous year yielded little progress.
Ukraine expressed encouragement from recent successful attacks, which included strikes in major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.
During a recent G7 summit, President Zelenskiy mentioned receiving commitments for more support from abroad, including from U.S. President Donald Trump, stating this assistance would enhance Ukraine’s efforts to engage Putin in negotiations.
The upcoming NATO summit next month may serve as a pivotal moment for fortifying Ukraine’s military position.
In the Tula region near Moscow, reports emerged of a house sustaining damage and a woman being injured, as regional governor Dmitry Milyaev addressed the incident online. He also noted that power lines and unspecified industrial facilities in Novomoskovsk were impacted.
Independent Russian media outlet Astra reported that a chemical plant and a hydroelectric power station in Novomoskovsk were struck and caught fire. However, the Associated Press could not confirm this, nor was there any official acknowledgment of the reports.
Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, noted that 47 Ukrainian drones were brought down while heading towards the capital, but he did not mention any casualties or damages associated with the attack.
In northeastern Kharkiv, two people lost their lives, and seven were injured due to Russian offensives in the last 24 hours, according to regional director Ole Sinyevov. He detailed that guided aerial bombs and various drone types were used against Kharkiv and 16 other localities in the region.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported intercepting 174 out of 189 Russian drones overnight; however, it was mentioned that four of seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles broke through the defensive network and landed in numerous areas. Damage reports indicated impacts on energy infrastructure, residential areas, and other civilian setups in Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhya, and Sumy, with at least six individuals injured, according to authorities.
Additionally, Russia is reportedly expanding several military bases deep within Belarus, yet no troop buildup has been noted near the Ukrainian frontier, as per a spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service. Since the invasion began in 2022 from Belarus, which shares borders with both nations, Kyiv has been closely monitoring these developments.
Spokesman Andriy Demchenko stated on Ukrainian television that there has been no evidence of massing or reinforcement of Russian troops or equipment at the border. However, intelligence reports indicate a rising number of training facilities and bases deep within Russia.
