(MOSCOW) – Ukrainian forces have executed a high-precision strike against the Druzhba oil pipeline system, successfully destroying a major pumping hub deep within the territory of the Russian Federation. The operation targeted Druzhba 1, a strategic junction that facilitates oil transit to Slovakia and Hungary, while also serving as a vital feed for the Caspian and Black Sea coastal regions.
The strike follows escalating diplomatic tensions between Kyiv, Bratislava, and Budapest. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian leader Viktor Orban have recently issued ultimatums regarding energy disputes, with Fico threatening to terminate emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. Simultaneously, Orban has threatened to veto a €85 billion (£71 billion/$90 billion) European Union loan to Ukraine. Kyiv has dismissed these threats as absurd, noting that Ukraine has permitted the transit of Russian oil through its territory for four years despite the ongoing invasion.
Further Ukrainian offensive operations include a confirmed strike by a Flamingo cruise missile against a ballistic missile factory located 1,400km inside Russia. The facility is a primary production site for Iskander ballistic missiles and Balava naval missiles. Satellite imagery confirmed significant structural damage to the industrial complex, with the 1,000kg (2,205lb) payload reportedly causing collateral damage to nearby commercial buildings.
On the southern front, Ukrainian forces have liberated approximately 300 square kilometres and eight settlements in the regions surrounding the Dnipro River. Military analysts suggest this counter-attack has reclaimed more territory in 20 days than Russian forces seized throughout December 2025. In the Zaparisia region, Ukrainian drone units targeted and destroyed three Russian Tor air defence systems, valued at approximately 70.3 million Euro (£59.3 million/$75 million).
In occupied Crimea, the Ukrainian Air Force reported successful strikes on two Russian Project 22460 border patrol vessels and a BE-12 amphibious aircraft. Conversely, Russia continues its campaign against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. A mass aerial assault involving 345 drones and missiles targeted Kyiv and the surrounding regions. Although Ukrainian defences intercepted 307 projectiles, several reached their targets, including a residential area and a confectionery factory owned by the American firm Mondelez. The strike on the snack manufacturer, which produces Ritz crackers and Oreo cookies, resulted in significant industrial damage.
Amidst these hostilities, reports indicate the United States military is entering the final phases of preparation for a potential large-scale operation against Iran. Analysts suggest the US has deployed nearly 50 per cent of its available air power to the region, a level of force not seen since the 1991 and 2003 invasions of Iraq. The sceptical view from some observers suggests this escalation may be a strategic pivot by the Trump administration, despite previous claims that Iranian nuclear facilities had already been neutralised.
International support for Kyiv continues with France signing a nuclear energy pact and providing a €66.4 million (£56 million/$71 million) grant. Denmark has committed 70 billion Krone (£7.9 billion/$10.1 billion) in military aid through 2028, while New Zealand has sanctioned 100 vessels of the Russian shadow fleet and lowered the oil price cap to $44.10 per barrel.
