Russian servicemen attend a practice for sabotage operations behind enemy lines at the training ground.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency claims to have struck a crucial Russian fuel pipeline near Moscow. The attack, carried out late Friday, targeted infrastructure vital for fueling Russian military operations, intensifying the ongoing energy war between the two nations.
Kyiv Claims a “Serious Blow” to Russian Military Logistics
According to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), the strike hit the Koltsevoy pipeline, a 400-kilometer network supplying gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel to Russian forces. The pipeline runs through Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Moscow, serving as one of Russia’s key military lifelines.
HUR reported that all three major fuel lines were destroyed in the Ramensky district. The damaged system had a transport capacity of up to 3 million tons of jet fuel, 2.8 million tons of diesel, and 1.6 million tons of gasoline per year.
“This operation delivers a greater impact than sanctions,” said HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov, referring to international penalties imposed on Russia since its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Moscow Pushes for Control in Pokrovsk
While Ukraine strikes deep inside Russian territory, fierce battles continue in eastern Ukraine. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed on Saturday that its troops defeated a Ukrainian special forces unit in Pokrovsk, a city in the Donetsk region.
Videos released by Moscow allegedly show captured Ukrainian soldiers admitting to heavy fighting and encirclement. However, the authenticity of these videos has not been verified, and Kyiv has not commented on the claims.
The two sides offer conflicting accounts. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently claimed his troops had surrounded Pokrovsk, while Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, dismissed those reports.
“The situation remains toughest in Pokrovsk, but there is no encirclement,” Syrskyi said. “A full operation is underway to push Russian forces out of the city.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Russian units have entered parts of Pokrovsk but assured that Ukrainian troops are countering effectively. He also revealed that Russia deployed nearly 170,000 soldiers in Donetsk in a renewed attempt to claim the city.
Putin Seeks a Strategic Edge Amid U.S. Pressure
Observers suggest that Putin is eager to secure a symbolic victory in Donbas. The Russian leader aims to demonstrate that Ukraine cannot withstand Moscow’s military power, even as Western nations urge him to pursue peace talks.
Putin continues to highlight Russia’s enhanced nuclear capabilities, insisting that Moscow will not abandon its “legitimate war objectives.” Capturing the Donbas region, comprising Donetsk and Luhansk, remains one of Russia’s top priorities. Ukraine still controls about 10% of the region’s coal-rich territory.
Deadly Russian Strikes Hit Southern Ukraine
Amid escalating hostilities, Russian missile strikes on Saturday killed one civilian and injured at least 19 others, including a 9-year-old girl, in the Mykolaiv region, local official Vitaliy Kim reported.
Elsewhere, a gas plant in the Poltava region caught fire following a Russian attack. The assault came as part of Russia’s ongoing campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has led to nationwide power cuts and restrictions.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 223 drones overnight, of which 206 were intercepted. Seventeen drones hit targets in seven regions, though no details were provided.
Meanwhile, Russian officials said they shot down 98 Ukrainian drones, including six near Moscow. A large-scale blackout occurred in Zhukovsky, a city southeast of Moscow, which authorities attributed to an “automatic equipment shutdown.”
