Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a Ukraine pipeline strike near Moscow that disrupted key fuel routes supporting Russian forces. The attack, carried out by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, dealt what officials described as a “serious blow” to Russia’s war logistics and energy transport systems.
Pipeline Attack Near Moscow
According to the Ukrainian intelligence service (HUR), the strike targeted the Koltsevoy fuel pipeline in the Ramensky district. This pipeline spans about 400 kilometers, transporting vast amounts of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from refineries in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Moscow.
Ukraine stated that all three fuel lines were destroyed during the Ukraine pipeline strike, severely impacting Russia’s military supply operations.
HUR revealed that the Koltsevoy pipeline previously carried up to 3 million tons of jet fuel, 2.8 million tons of diesel, and 1.6 million tons of gasoline each year. By disrupting this supply chain, Ukraine aims to hinder Russia’s ability to maintain its aggressive operations on the front lines.
Kyrylo Budanov, the head of HUR, said, “Our strikes have had more impact than sanctions,” highlighting the strategic importance of targeting Russia’s internal logistics rather than relying solely on international pressure.
Conflict Intensifies in Eastern Ukraine
While Ukraine struck deep into Russian territory, Moscow’s forces continue to push toward key eastern Ukrainian cities. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its troops defeated Ukrainian special forces near Pokrovsk, a contested city in the Donetsk region.
Russian officials also released videos allegedly showing captured Ukrainian soldiers. However, the authenticity of these videos remains unverified, and Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed Russia’s statements.
Ukrainian Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi countered Moscow’s claims, saying that Ukrainian troops are conducting a “comprehensive operation” to repel enemy advances in Pokrovsk. He emphasized that despite the intense battles, there has been no complete encirclement by Russian troops.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that Russian units had entered parts of Pokrovsk but insisted Ukraine is regaining control through targeted counterattacks. He noted that Russia had deployed roughly 170,000 troops in Donetsk as part of a large-scale effort to secure a symbolic victory before winter.
Moscow’s Broader Objectives
Russian President Vladimir Putin appears determined to seize all of Ukraine’s Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk provinces. This industrial heartland remains a strategic goal for Moscow’s military campaign. Currently, Ukraine still controls about 10 percent of the area, including key mining and industrial zones.
Analysts suggest that the Ukraine pipeline strike could complicate Russia’s logistics and delay its eastern offensives. Fuel shortages and disrupted supply chains often slow military operations, giving Ukrainian forces a temporary advantage in maintaining defensive lines.
Nighttime Strikes Across Ukraine
As Ukraine targeted Russia’s energy network, Moscow responded with intense overnight drone and missile assaults across multiple Ukrainian regions. One civilian was killed and 19 others wounded in the southern Mykolaiv region after an Iskander missile hit residential areas. A gas plant in Poltava also caught fire following another Russian attack.
Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 206 out of 223 drones launched by Russia overnight. However, 17 drones managed to hit targets in seven regions, damaging energy infrastructure and causing widespread blackouts.
In Russia, local officials reported a massive power outage in Zhukovsky, a city southeast of Moscow, following what they called an “automatic equipment shutdown.” The disruption, however, coincided with Ukraine’s reported attack on the nearby pipeline.
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