Ukraine carried out a drone strike on an oil depot in southern Russia that supplies the Kremlin’s troops, according to a statement from Ukraine’s General Staff. The attack targeted an oil depot in Russia’s Kursk region, causing powerful explosions and a fire. The goal was to undermine the military and economic potential of the Russian occupiers and force Russia to stop its armed aggression against Ukraine. The strike came following Russian claims of shooting down seven Ukrainian drones over Russian territory, with one drone setting fire to the oil depot in the Kursk province. Firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze, and there were no reported injuries.
The Kursk region is located on the border with Ukraine’s Sumy province, where Ukraine has previously targeted various sites inside Russian territory using drones and other weapons. Ukrainian officials have been seeking permission from Western allies to use more modern and sophisticated weapons to strike valuable targets inside Russia. Meanwhile, Russian troops continued to make gains in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk province, advancing westward towards the towns of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that its forces had taken control of two neighboring villages east of Pokrovsk, with claims of capturing nearly a dozen villages in the province this month.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, leading to millions of people fleeing to neighboring countries. Taking control of all of Donetsk, part of Ukraine’s industrial heartland, is a key goal for the Kremlin in the ongoing conflict. Russian strikes in the Donetsk region resulted in the deaths of five civilians and injuries to 15 others. Local reports indicated that more civilians, including children, were wounded in other areas of eastern and southern Ukraine due to Russian shelling. In the city of Nikopol, eight civilians, including a toddler and a 10-year-old girl, were wounded, with six of them needing hospitalization. Additionally, Russian shelling in a village in Kherson province injured eight more civilians, including a 10-year-old and two teenagers.
Overall, the situation in Ukraine remains volatile, with ongoing clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces leading to civilian casualties and destruction. The conflict has escalated in recent months, with both sides seeking to gain control of strategic territories. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with many countries condemning Russia’s actions and providing support to Ukraine in various forms. The humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict has also drawn attention, with efforts underway to provide aid to those affected by the violence. As the conflict persists, hopes for a peaceful resolution remain uncertain, with both sides showing determination to achieve their respective goals.
