Ukraine launched drone attacks on oil facilities deep within Russia on Tuesday, targeting regions hundreds of kilometres from the border. This coincides with reports of an armed incursion by anti-Kremlin Russian groups in a border region just days before Russia’s presidential election.
The drone attacks, targeting eight different regions across Russia, showcase Ukraine’s growing technological advancements in its fight against Russia. One drone strike even reached the Nizhny Novgorod region, nearly 800 km from Ukraine, setting an oil refinery ablaze. Another drone was shot down near Moscow’s Zhukovsky Airport.
🔥 Oil depot in Orel, Russia.
As a result of a drone attack, a 2’000 m3 tank with 150t of gasoline is burning. A 2nd UAV hit 2 production buildings of the enterprise. pic.twitter.com/pDaSS8lMfy— Tinu🇨🇭🇺🇦 (@TinuFella) March 12, 2024
Adding to the tension, Ukraine-based forces opposed to President Vladimir Putin claim to have launched a ground incursion into Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions. These reports come with a heavy dose of uncertainty, as similar claims in these areas have been disputed throughout the war. Both Russia and Ukraine released conflicting details about the supposed incursion.
The claimed attackers, identifying themselves as the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Siberian Battalion, released statements and social media videos declaring their intention to “liberate Russia from Putin’s dictatorship.” The authenticity of these videos remains unverified.
The Russian Defense Ministry countered, claiming they successfully repelled both the drone attacks and the ground incursion attempts. However, specific details remain scarce. Ukrainian officials maintain the attacking forces are Russian citizens fighting for Ukraine’s cause.
While these attacks demonstrate Ukraine’s growing offensive capabilities, the country still faces significant challenges. They are pushing for increased military supplies from Western allies, as they battle a larger and better-equipped Russian army on Ukrainian soil.
President Zelenskyy acknowledged recent difficulties due to a lack of artillery shells and long-range weapons but expressed confidence that the battlefield situation has improved compared to the past few months.
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