Ukraine Launches 'Massive' Strike on Russian Military and Industrial Facilities
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported a severe overnight assault on Russian military and industrial centers on January 14. The attack, described as the most extensive of its kind, spanned an estimated 1,100 kilometers (around 620 miles).
Critical targets included chemical plants, refineries, and ammunition depots at the Engels airbase, according to an insider from Ukraine's Security Service (SBU). The SBU source confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that these coordinated strikes aim to cripple Russia's capacity to wage war on Ukrainian soil.
Drone Strikes Across Russian Regions
A series of Ukrainian drone strikes reportedly targeted areas including Saratov, Voronezh, Orel oblasts, and Tatarstan. However, the Russian Defense Ministry declined to release exact figures on the number of drones involved in the operation.
Dmitry Milyaev, the governor of Russia's Tula region, disclosed a "massive drone attack" via a Telegram post. Milyaev stated that at least 17 drones took part in the assault. Despite damage to vehicles and structures due to drone debris in Aleksin, there were thankfully no reported casualties.
Engels Airfield and Industrial Facilities Hit
Important military installations and industrial facilities have been heavily impacted by the assault. Governor Roman Busargin of Saratov and Engels confirmed that two industrial facilities received significant damage due to drone strikes. The strikes included one on the Kristal oil facility in Engels, which had been reeling from a fiery incident caused by an earlier attack on January 8.
The Engels airfield, over 750 kilometers from Ukraine's closest controlled territory, is believed to have suffered damage to its ammunition depots. These depots supposedly contained FAB glide bombs, KAB bombs, and cruise missiles. Nearby, the Saratov oil refinery was also reportedly engulfed in flames.
The airfield is known for housing three different types of Russian strategic bombers—the Tupolev Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160. These bombers are known for frequently launching missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Due to the ongoing threat from drone strikes, Mikhail Isayev, the acting head of the Engels district, announced that schools in the city would transition to remote learning.
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces Confirm Strike
After strikes damaged a chemical plant in the town of Seltso, situated near Bryansk, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces confirmed their involvement. The plant was reported to produce gunpowder, explosives, and missile fuel components vital to Russian military operations.
The drone-led assault was a significant distraction to Russian air defense, enabling missiles to hit primary targets. Following the missile strike, long-range drones reportedly destroyed substations and other critical infrastructure.
In Tatarstan's capital, Kazan, a drone strike ignited a gas tank at a fuel facility. The local authorities confirmed that the fire, which happened around 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, caused no significant damage.
Impact on Russia's Oil Industry
These concerted attacks are a part of Ukraine's strategic plan to disrupt supply chains crucial to Russia's military efforts. Notably, Ukraine's forces have increasingly targeted Russia’s oil industry, ammunition depots, and airfields.
These systematic strikes aim to cripple Russia's war apparatus, striking deeply into its territory and are part of Ukraine's ongoing efforts to undermine Russia's ability to sustain a full-scale invasion. Fossil fuel exports, which the strikes have significantly impaired, remain a significant revenue source for the Kremlin's military operations.
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