Ukraine Strikes Deep into Russia, Triggers Massive Drone Attack

In a significant escalation, Ukraine has launched a major attack on Russian territory. The assault included firing six US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles and six UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles deep into Russian regions. Additionally, Ukraine carried out one of its largest drone attacks to date. The strikes targeted key infrastructure, including oil storage facilities, refineries, chemical plants, and ammunition depots in regions like Bryansk, Saratov, Tula, and Tatarstan. Russia's military responded by claiming to have intercepted all the Western missiles aimed at the Bryansk region and shot down 146 drones outside the main war zone. They also reported downing two more Storm Shadow missiles over the Black Sea. Moscow warned that these actions by Kyiv, backed by Western allies, would not go unpunished. The Ukrainian military did not specify how they struck the targets but confirmed that both drones and missile units were involved. This latest attack comes amidst ongoing tensions, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in significant casualties and displacement, straining relations between Moscow and the West. President Vladimir Putin had previously warned that the conflict was escalating towards a global scale after the US and UK allowed Ukraine to use their missiles for deep strikes into Russian territory. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has been advocating for a ceasefire and negotiations to swiftly end the war, raising questions about long-term US support for Ukraine. The drone attack on Russia was particularly notable for its scale. Roman Busargin, the governor of the Saratov region, reported that cities like Saratov and Engels were subjected to a massive drone assault, causing damage to industrial sites. Schools in the area switched to remote learning due to the attacks. Ukraine's military also claimed to have hit specific targets such as the Kristall Plant oil storage facility in Engels and the Bryansk Chemical Plant, which produces various types of ammunition. The drone attack also targeted a munitions storage facility at the Engels airbase, triggering fires at the Saratov Oil Refinery and the Kazanorgsintez plant.