On the 1598th day of war, Kiev continued its series of attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, hitting targets in multiple regions.
The Ukrainian army struck the Ilskii refinery in southern Russia during the night, a unit that has been targeted at least 17 times before.
Huge clouds of smoke rose above the city of Taganrog on the coast of the Sea of Azov in the Rostov region, where an attack took place on the oil terminal in the port.
Furthermore, attacks on oil depots caused a strong fire in the city of Tver and led to a local state of emergency being declared in the Stavropol region.
The Mayor of Moscow announced that by morning, 16 drones heading towards the capital had been shot down. Two airports were temporarily closed in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and Russian authorities claim to have intercepted 376 drones during the night.
Meanwhile, the Saratov refinery was shut down after being hit by Ukrainian drones on Wednesday.
On the other hand, Russian forces launched nearly 140 drones during the night, with most being neutralized by air defense. However, 18 drones hit Ukrainian territory.
The Ukrainian army managed to halt the Russian offensive on the front lines. Moscow's troops are now conducting offensive operations in only half of the sectors, and the pace of Russian advancement has decreased by more than half in the first half of the year, announced Ukrainian forces commander General Sîrskîi.
General Sîrskîi specified that nearly 700 targets in Russian territory were hit in the first half of the year, causing Russia losses estimated at at least 6.1 billion dollars.
Two anti-war reactions in both camps are also noted.
Authorities in Ukraine have initiated investigations today into the violent clashes in the city of Lviv in the western part of the country, where a group of individuals on Wednesday evening blocked on-duty recruitment officers, overturned their car, leading to larger clashes with the police and army members.
And a woman filmed herself making an appeal to the Kremlin to end the war, amidst growing dissatisfaction caused by the fuel crisis in Russia.
Ukraine's Strikes
- The 18th strike at a refinery - The Ukrainian army struck the Ilskii refinery during the night, located approximately 500 km from Ukraine in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia. Photos and videos posted online show flames rising above the refinery. The unit has been targeted by Ukrainian attacks at least 17 times before, as reported by Kiev Independent.
- Attack in Rostov - The Rostov region was targeted by a major attack on local oil infrastructure in the morning. Huge clouds of smoke rose above the city of Taganrog on the coast of the Sea of Azov, where an attack took place on the oil terminal in the port. Additionally, a fire was reported at an oil depot in the neighboring city of Azov, also in the Rostov region. Moreover, attacks on oil depots caused a strong fire in the city of Tver and led to a local state of emergency being declared in the Stavropol region, as reported by Kiev Independent.
- Disrupted air traffic - Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted air traffic in Moscow and St. Petersburg, with Russian authorities claiming to have intercepted 376 drones during the night, as reported by Kiev Post. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that air defense systems began intercepting drones last night. He announced that by morning, 16 drones heading towards the capital had been shot down. Operations at Domodedovo Airport were suspended, while Russian Telegram channels reported similar restrictions at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg.
- Refinery halted by Ukrainians - The Saratov refinery suspended its processing operations after a Ukrainian drone attack on the facility, as reported by Reuters, citing unidentified sources. The Saratov oil refinery has been a frequent target of Ukrainian attacks, with the most recent one occurring on Wednesday night. Sources indicated that the refinery's only oil distillation unit was hit during the attack.
Russia's Attacks
- Almost 140 drones - Russian forces launched 137 drones during the night, with 114 being neutralized in the northern, southern, and eastern parts of the country. 18 drones hit 16 locations, as reported by the morning Ukrainian Air Forces.
What's Happening on the Front Lines
- Russians are bogged down - Chief Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Sîrskîi, stated that the pace of Russian advancement has decreased by more than half in the first six months of the year, while Russian forces suffer monthly losses of approximately 32,000 killed and wounded soldiers. "The enemy attempted a large-scale offensive, but in reality, failed to achieve any of its objectives, despite having nearly twice the advantage in terms of personnel and equipment. While previously the Russian army was conducting active offensive operations in 13 sectors, now only six or seven are active," he pointed out. "Currently, the ratio between our assault operations and those of the enemy is about 40 to 60. Due to the actions of the defense forces, the pace of Russian advancement has decreased by more than half in the first half of the year," detailed the general. Sîrskîi added that the rate of territorial gains on both sides has practically reached parity. "There is a constant trend of increasing the ratio between the territory liberated by the defense forces of Ukraine and the areas where the enemy manages to advance," noted Sîrskîi.
Other Relevant Information
- Nearly 700 targets hit in Russia - Ukrainian General Oleksandr Sîrskîi stated that 697 targets in Russian territory were hit in the first half of the year, causing direct and indirect economic losses estimated at at least 6.1 billion dollars. He added that the medium-range strike campaign was also effective, hitting 7,028 Russian targets in the same period, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda.
- Clashes in Lviv - Authorities in Ukraine have launched investigations today into the violent clashes in the city of Lviv in the western part of the country, as reported by Reuters. Prosecutors stated that a group of individuals on Wednesday evening blocked on-duty recruitment officers, overturned their car, leading to larger clashes with the police and army members. Footage broadcast by Ukraine's public television station showed crowds surrounding vehicles in a residential area, chanting "Shame!" and stripping the uniform off one of the officers. The incident was the latest in a series of attacks on recruitment officers, revealing long-standing anger over how the Ukrainian army fills its ranks to fight against a larger and better-armed Russia.
- Call for peace from Russia - Dissatisfaction over the fuel crisis is growing in Russia. A woman filmed herself making an appeal to the Kremlin to end the war. "We have another evacuation at the plant. It's a total nightmare. Stop this war immediately!" pleads a Russian woman. "Enough with the drones, rockets, and all the rest from both sides. Live in peace, for God's sake. How much longer can this go on?" the woman questions.
- Scandal in Warsaw - Polish Defense Minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, defended the government's decision to transfer Patriot missiles to Ukraine, stating that the military assistance provided to Kiev serves Poland's national interest. He criticized statements made by the president's entourage and representatives of opposition parties, who attacked the government over the transfer of missiles intended for Ukraine's air defense. "The defeat of Ukraine in the war with Russia would be the worst possible scenario for us. I prefer our Patriot missiles to intercept Russian missiles above Kiev rather than above Warsaw. Those who criticize Poland's support for Ukraine have lost their minds. This drives me crazy," the minister said in an interview with TVN24.
- Moscow Does Not Believe in the West - Russia no longer trusts the West's willingness to reach a negotiated solution regarding Ukraine, stated Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as reported by TASS. "The West continues to make hypocritical calls for a negotiated solution. Negotiated solutions were agreed upon in 2014, 2015, and 2019. In all these cases, the guarantees offered by the West were canceled by the West itself. They all turned out to be blatant lies," the Russian diplomacy chief said. "Also, in 2022, there was a negotiated solution between Russia and Ukraine, but the West openly and publicly undermined it. We no longer trust the West's declared willingness to find a negotiated solution; this reserve of good faith and hope has been completely exhausted," Lavrov added.