Ukrainian Drone Strikes
On the night of June 12, Ukrainian drones targeted a military training ground in the Zaporizhzhia region, along with oil infrastructure deep inside Russian territory and other strategic sites. The strikes focused on temporary deployment areas of Russian units that were undergoing training at a facility near Novopetrivka.
Three distinct Russian units were present at the training ground simultaneously:
- The 40th Naval Infantry Brigade, originally from Kamchatka;
- The 1461st Regiment of the 36th Army, composed of personnel from Buryatia;
- The 1466th Regiment of the 5th Army, which includes new recruits from Primorsky Krai.
All three units have been actively engaged in combat operations in the Hulyaipole sector. Notably, in 2023, the commander of a company within the 1466th Regiment shot and killed the regiment's intelligence chief (call sign Mustang) before taking his own life.
Attacks on Critical Assets
The drones struck several high-value targets. Among those hit were:
- A Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile system near Vershyna Druha;
- A ZU-23 anti-aircraft gun and a man-portable air-defense system team in the Novopetrivka area;
- A drone unit command post in Novoandriivka, Donetsk region;
- A drone operator deployment site in Dovzhansk, Luhansk region.
In addition, the drones targeted oil infrastructure in the Russian rear. The list included the Taman oil terminal in Krasnodar Krai, located 270 kilometers from the front line, and a central oil collection and pumping facility in Volgograd Oblast, situated 500 kilometers from the front. The attack also hit the port of Temryuk in Krasnodar Krai, where local authorities reported a fire at a marine terminal.
Russian-installed official Saldo reported that bridges on Russian-occupied territory in the Kherson region had been struck, indicating ongoing active combat in that area. It is worth noting that
“the Buryats and Kamchatka marines passed their final exams to the SBU's Birds at the 'Vostochny' training ground in the temporarily occupied territories,”said Robert Magyar Brovdi.
These latest Ukrainian drone attacks highlight an escalation of hostilities across multiple fronts, particularly in Zaporizhzhia and deep within Russian rear areas. The strikes appear to reflect a strategic Ukrainian objective to disrupt the logistics and training of Russian units fighting in the east. Furthermore, hitting Russia's oil and gas infrastructure could undermine the enemy's energy stability and resource availability. As the war continues, such developments may significantly shift the balance of power on the battlefield.
In addition to the successful strikes on military targets, Ukrainian forces have also escalated their operations against critical infrastructure. For instance, a recent drone attack targeted an oil depot in Armavir, highlighting the ongoing strategy to disrupt supply lines and resources within Russian territory. This coordinated effort underscores the broader implications of Ukraine's military actions, which aim not only to weaken enemy forces but also to cripple logistical support. To read more about this significant strike, visit the details of the Armavir oil depot attack.