Strikes Target Russian and Occupied Territory Sites
In a series of coordinated strikes, Ukrainian Defense Forces targeted military and industrial facilities within Russia and in temporarily occupied territories on the night of February 12. These long-range attacks demonstrate Ukraine's growing capability to strike deep behind enemy lines. The operation successfully hit the following key sites:
- An ammunition depot in Volgograd Oblast
- A manufacturing plant in Tambov Oblast
- Munitions warehouses in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
- Oil refineries in Volgograd Oblast and the Komi Republic
Specifically, near the settlement of Kotluban in Volgograd Oblast, Ukrainian forces struck a major arsenal used by the Russian Defense Ministry's Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate for the storage of missiles, ammunition, and explosives. The attack was carried out using Ukrainian-made FP-5 Flamingo long-range missiles. According to Ukraine's General Staff, powerful explosions were recorded at the site, followed by secondary detonations. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Simultaneously, in the city of Michurinsk, Tambov Oblast, a strike hit the Michurinsk Progress Plant, a facility specializing in the production of high-tech equipment for aviation and missile systems. The attack resulted in a significant fire at the plant.
Wider Impact of the Offensive
Further strikes on February 11 targeted ammunition depots near the settlements of Terpinnya and Rozivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The coordinated offensive also damaged key energy infrastructure. The Volgograd Oil Refinery sustained damage to its primary oil processing unit, ELOU-AVT-1, along with other infrastructure. Another refinery, the Lukoil-Ukhtaneftepererabotka plant located in Ukhta, Komi Republic—over 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine—was also hit. These deep strikes on energy assets are part of a broader strategy to degrade Russia's war economy.
Analysts forecast that Russia's revenue from energy exports could fall to just 22% of all federal budget revenues by 2026, a sharp decline from the previous range of 40-50%. This represents a significant long-term economic challenge for the Kremlin.
These strikes mark a significant escalation, highlighting Ukraine's strategy to degrade Russia's strategic military and economic assets.
Undermining Russia's economic base, particularly its energy sector, could have profound long-term consequences for the country's financial stability. The projected drop in energy export revenue suggests Russia may face serious fiscal difficulties in the future, potentially impacting its military capabilities and capacity to sustain the conflict. The situation remains highly volatile, with the actions of both sides likely to determine the course of events in the region.