Ukraine attacked an oil depot close to a crucial navy airfield in southern Russia on Wednesday, the Ukrainian navy mentioned, the newest strike in a marketing campaign to inflict ache deep contained in the nation whilst Kyiv’s forces are dropping floor at dwelling on the battlefield.
The navy mentioned it had struck the Kristall oil storage facility in Engels, round 300 miles from the border between the 2 international locations. It mentioned the depot equipped gasoline to the Engels airfield, which it has mentioned is a staging floor for Russia’s long-running assaults on Ukrainian vitality infrastructure, and which hosts a few of Russia’s long-range nuclear-capable bombers.
A Russian official wrote on the Telegram messaging app {that a} “huge” drone assault had focused Engels. Roman Busargin, the governor of the Saratov area, mentioned that air defenses had intercepted the drones however that falling particles had hit an “industrial facility” and ignited a hearth. Nobody was damage, Mr. Busargin wrote.
Kyiv has repeatedly focused the bottom, attempting to restrict the strikes on Ukraine’s vitality system, which have plunged cities into darkness, battering the Ukrainian grid and forcing officers to scramble for various energy choices.
The newest assault got here as Ukrainian forces are urgent what seems to be a renewed offensive within the Kursk area in western Russia. Either side have reported fierce combating over the previous few days in Kursk, the place Ukrainian troops seized about 500 sq. miles of territory in a shock cross-border incursion final summer season.
Russia has since regained roughly half of the territory it misplaced. Analysts have mentioned the renewed offensive seems to be Ukraine’s try to regain momentum and challenge energy earlier than President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration.
Mr. Trump has vowed to convey the battle to a fast finish, with out saying how. That has spurred issues his administration would possibly minimize off navy support to Ukraine. The Biden administration has been dashing to get extra help to Kyiv earlier than Mr. Trump takes the oath of workplace on Jan. 20.
On Wednesday, Protection Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III is touring to Germany for a gathering on Thursday with a coalition of allies he convened to debate Ukraine’s safety wants after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. It is going to be Mr. Austin’s twenty fifth — and final — assembly with the group, which incorporates about 50 international locations.
The assembly “will give attention to the necessity to guarantee continued supply of key capabilities together with air protection methods, artillery munitions, and armored automobiles,” in line with the Pentagon.
When requested by reporters on Wednesday whether or not there was concern about the way forward for the coalition as soon as Mr. Trump takes workplace, Pentagon officers mentioned they had been assured European allies would stick with it the work — no matter whether or not the brand new U.S. administration decreases its assist.
Whereas the dimensions of the brand new Kursk offensive stays unclear, navy analysts have steered that it may be an try to power Russia to divert troops away from the entrance traces of jap Ukraine, the place they’ve been steadily carrying down Kyiv’s defenses to grab new floor.
On Monday, Russia’s protection ministry mentioned its forces had captured Kurakhove, a strategic city in jap Ukraine, after months of heavy combating.
