Ukraine launches New Year’s Night Strikes Deep Inside Russia, Targeting Oil Refineries and Military Sites
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A coordinated series of strikes by Ukrainian forces on the night of January 1 targeted key infrastructure and military installations deep within Russian territory, including an oil refinery and multiple sites in occupied regions. The attacks, confirmed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine via Facebook, mark a significant escalation in Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities and a bold start to the new year.
Expanding Range of Ukrainian Strikes
The Ukrainian military announced that units successfully hit the “Ilski” oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, a region bordering ukraine and Crimea. Confirmed attack drone strikes at the refinery were followed by reports of a fire at the site.This strike demonstrates Ukraine’s growing ability to reach targets previously considered beyond its immediate range.
Further expanding the scope of the operation, an oil readiness facility named “Almetyevskaya” was also reportedly struck in the Republic of Tatarstan, a region located much further inland. This suggests a complex drone operation capable of navigating hundreds of miles of Russian airspace.
Targeting Military Assets in Occupied Territories
Beyond the strikes on energy infrastructure, Ukrainian forces simultaneously targeted several Russian military assets in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk region. These included a depot storing Shahed/”Gueran” drones on the outskirts of Donetsk city, a fuel and lubricant depot belonging to the 51st Russian army near Ilovaïsk – where a fire was reported – and a command and observation post of the 68th tank regiment in the Avdiivka sector.A Tor-M2 anti-aircraft system near the village of Shevchenko was also neutralized.
Ten Targets Hit in a Coordinated new Year’s Offensive
According to Robert “Madiar” Brovdi, commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Ukrainian units struck a total of ten Russian military and infrastructure targets during the New Year’s night offensive. These strikes extended beyond the immediate conflict zone, reaching deep into Russian territory, as well as Crimea and the occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
Among the ten targets were two oil installations within Russia and the Rovenky fuel depot in the Luhansk region. Ukrainian drones also successfully hit a “Kasta”-2E2 radar station and the radar post at the Hvardiyske military airfield in Crimea, a critical location for preparing Iskander-M missiles and Shahed drones. two areas of enemy troop concentration and another fuel and lubricant depot were also targeted.
Why did this happen? Ukraine launched these strikes as a response to continued Russian attacks and to demonstrate its capability to strike targets within Russia, potentially disrupting its war effort. Who was involved? The attacks were carried out by Ukrainian forces, specifically the Unmanned Systems Forces, under the command of robert “Madiar” Brovdi. What happened? Ukrainian drones targeted ten Russian military and infrastructure targets, including oil refineries, drone depots, fuel storage facilities, radar stations, and troop concentrations. How did it end? The immediate outcome is confirmed damage to several targets, including fires at oil refineries and the neutralization of a Russian anti-aircraft system. The long-term implications of these attacks on Russia’s war effort and its ability to sustain the conflict remain to be seen.
Related reading
- Ukraine’s 40-Day Campaign: Refinery Strikes vs. Port Losses (newsy-today.com)
- Russian Missile Strikes on Kyiv Kill 14 and Injure Dozens (archynewsy.com)
