Summary
A massive Ukrainian drone strike targeted Russian oil refineries and infrastructure, including Moscow’s largest refinery, which supplies 50% of the city’s fuel.
The attack also hit the Druzhba pipeline control station, halting Russian oil exports to Hungary. With over 337 drones striking multiple regions, the operation exploited gaps in Russia’s air defenses.
Hungary, heavily reliant on Russian energy, called the pipeline attack a threat to its sovereignty.
Analysts suggest continued strikes could pressure Russia’s economy and energy dominance, potentially influencing ceasefire negotiations.
The Ukrainians are leaving on their own? Why are they leaving?
The loss of American support and intelligence sharing, exposed their soldiers to greater risks, so they performed a tactical withdrawal. Had it been ruzzia in that situation, they’d have just let their soldiers die, and sent more in to die also.
American support and intelligence has only been paused for one week and has resumed since.
Did you forget you already said this a minute ago, Yuri? Damn but that anti-freeze vodka sure does hit hard, hey? :)
They got tired of killing koreans probably
Sadly, the situation was considerably more dire.
In Kursk, at the end, Ukrainian troops (about 12 000 men) were supplied using a single good road. Russia brought in enough offensive power (about 70 000 men) to push on that road, and despite heavy losses, reached artillery and drone range. Russia then relocated some of their best droners to the area (both countries have elite drone units with better equipment and experience) and started attacking nearly every supply vehicle that they could. Logistics broke down.
Then Trump pulled the intel and HIMARS strikes ceased for a while.
As a result, the Ukrainian contingent in Kursk received orders to do an orderly retreat. But they received them late. In reality, they had to save themselves using rather ungraceful methods, often abandoning vehicles (bridge was blown up) and moving on foot.
The Kursk offensive helped distract Russia more than a little, but shouldn’t have ended that way. I’m fairly certain ISW will write in detail about the Kursk events in their next review of developments, but the lesson as it appears to me: “retreat before your movement routes come under fire”.
As for long range strike drones, Ukrainians have some of the best in the world, and they’re working hard with them. Also, recently, what appeared to be an Ukrainian cruise missile circumnavigated Crimea and hit an oil depot south of the peninsula. Which means 1000+ km of cruise missile range. Moscow needs only around 700 km.