(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Ukraine launched another wave of drone and missile strikes deep into Russian territory, hitting two oil refineries, a chemical plant, and several radar installations. The latest attacks mark Kyiv’s growing ability to carry out sustained precision operations against Moscow’s energy and military infrastructure, reversing the pattern of one sided bombardments seen in the early years of the war.
The NS Oil Refinery in Novo Spassk and the Mari Oil Refinery in the Mari El Republic were both set ablaze in the overnight strikes. Ukrainian sources said the attacks were part of a 210 drone and 10 missile operation targeting Russia’s industrial network. Fires also broke out at facilities producing polyethylene and polypropylene, materials critical to Russia’s defence supply chain.
| Target Site | Location | Estimated Output (Annual) | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| NS Oil Refinery | Novo Spassk, Russia | 6 million tonnes | Supplies Russian army fuel |
| Mari Oil Refinery | Mari El Republic | 1.4 million tonnes | Regional fuel supplier |
| Chemical Plant | Stav Roland Zad | N/A | Military chemicals production |
In occupied Crimea, Ukraine destroyed two oil depots in Simferopol and damaged a thermal power plant in Surozh, cutting energy supply across the peninsula. The strikes were part of a wider campaign to degrade Russia’s logistics network. Ukrainian drones also hit radar and missile launch systems valued in the tens of millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, an explosion at a Russian ammunition plant in Chelyabinsk killed 23 workers. Though Kyiv has not claimed responsibility, speculation is rising that local resistance groups may be behind the blast.
Russian forces, still struggling to advance, continue to inflict heavy civilian casualties. In Kherson, a children’s hospital was struck by artillery, injuring nine people, including four children. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as “a deliberate strike against life itself.”
The United Nations later reported that Russian troops have been using drones to hunt civilians near the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, describing the practice as a “crime against humanity” involving the forced displacement of civilians.
On the eastern front, fighting remains intense around Pokrovsk. Ukrainian troops are outnumbered eight to one, yet continue to resist. Analysts warn that a tactical withdrawal may soon be necessary to avoid encirclement, though the Ukrainian command has been careful to preserve manpower while inflicting maximum losses on Russian attackers.
The pace of Russian territorial gains remains slow. Since 2022, Moscow’s forces have captured just four mid sized cities in Donetsk region—Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Bakhmut, and Avdiivka, an average of one per year despite enormous casualties.
| Year | City Captured | Estimated Time Taken |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Severodonetsk, Lysychansk | 5 months |
| 2023 | Bakhmut | 10 months |
| 2024 | Avdiivka | 9 months |
| 2025 | Pokrovsk (ongoing) | In progress |
Away from the battlefield, Moscow faces growing economic strain. Russia’s central bank has lost its independence as dictator Vladimir Putin orders interest rate cuts despite inflation exceeding 20 percent. Ordinary Russians, fearful of financial collapse, have purchased over 282 tonnes of gold since 2022, valued at approximately USD 20 billion, as a hedge against sanctions and currency volatility.
In a separate development, Trump’s call for renewed nuclear testing has triggered unease among global security experts. His statement followed Russia’s test of the Poseidon nuclear torpedo, a weapon capable of creating radioactive tsunamis. Putin hailed the test as a “huge success,” even as his conventional forces continue to suffer heavy battlefield losses.
Trump’s message, posted on social media, claimed the United States had more nuclear weapons than any other nation and ordered the Pentagon to resume testing “immediately.” In reality, Russia maintains a larger stockpile, approximately 4,489 warheads compared with America’s 3,708.
| Country | Estimated Active Warheads (2025) |
|---|---|
| Russia | 4,489 |
| United States | 3,708 |
| China | 410 |
The Kremlin responded by warning that any US nuclear test would prompt reciprocal action. International observers fear that such moves could unravel the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1996), which both Moscow and Washington have previously respected.
Amid escalating tensions, protests in Georgia have continued for more than a year against the pro-Russian ruling party. Demonstrators demand the government steer back toward democracy and European integration.
Ukraine’s strategy of technological adaptation and selective strikes is gradually neutralising Russia’s industrial and psychological advantage.
