Ukrainian troops are accelerating the pace of medium-range drone attacks on Russian forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday, a fact that shows an increased capacity of the Kiev army, outnumbered in the war with Russia, reports Reuters.
Drone attacks in Moscow PHOTO profimedia
While Russian troops are launching new offensives along the eastern front, Ukrainian forces are betting on so-called “middle strikes” – targeting logistics centers, troop concentrations and air defense systems tens of kilometers behind the front line, according to Agerpres.
Zelenski stated on Tuesday that attacks at distances of more than 20 kilometers doubled compared to March and increased four times compared to February.
“And there will be more. This is a priority area,”he wrote on the X network.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry said last week that Ukrainian forces launched more than 160 medium-range strikes during April at a range of 120-150 kilometers.
The targets included more than 65 logistics and ammunition depots, 33 drone checkpoints, as well as 17 troop command posts in both occupied Ukrainian territories and Russian border regions.
“We attack resources, disrupt supply (and) reduce the intensity of bombing and troop mobility,” it is stated in a statement published on May 1.
“The April attacks represent a systemic campaign to wear Russia down,” the Ukrainian Ministry sent.
Attack with “Flamingo” missiles and drones on military and energy targets in Russia
Zelenskiy confirmed on Tuesday that Ukraine had attacked Russian military-industrial sites, including defense forces production facilities in the city of Ceboksari, in the Republic of Chiva, some 1,500 km away, using domestically developed Flamingo cruise missiles.
The Ukrainians also attacked one of the country's largest oil refineries.
Images and videos shared on social media show a heavy fire at the state institute JSC VNIIR-Progress, which produces components for high-precision weapons. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the unit also develops electronic warfare systems and antennas used to jam radio, satellite and radar signals.
State media reported two dead and 32 injured. The explosions were reported in the area after an air alert was issued, and Russian Telegram channels indicated the use of a Ukrainian FP-5 “Flamingo” missile.
Later, during the morning, Ukrainian drones would have hit the same facility again, according to local witnesses.
Ukrainian forces also hit the Kirishi Oil Refinery (KINEF), one of the largest in Russia, on Tuesday. The governor of the Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, confirmed that the refinery was the main target. NASA's Fire Monitoring System (FIRMS) indicated several outbreaks in the area.
Industry sources cited by Reuters said the refinery halted operations after three of its four crude distillation units were damaged, as well as auxiliary facilities. The refinery's annual capacity is estimated at 20–21 million tonnes, representing over 6% of Russia's refined output.
The Russian Defense Ministry said 289 drones were intercepted in various regions, and Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said five drones were destroyed near the capital.
The attacks also targeted other areas, including occupied Crimea, as well as the cities of Voronezh and Kazan. At least 18 Russian airports have temporarily suspended flights.
The “Flamingo” missile, developed by the Fire Point company, is a relatively new system, used by Ukraine since the summer of last year. According to available data, it has a range of up to 3,000 kilometers and can carry a warhead of about 1,000 kilograms.
The attack comes a day after a Ukrainian drone struck a residential block in Moscow a short distance from the Kremlin, marking one of the deepest strikes on the Russian capital since the start of the full-scale invasion.
