Ukraine carried out a series of overnight strikes deep inside Russia, hitting the Saratov region oil refinery, the Engels airfield that hosts strategic Belarusian‑compatible aircraft and a Wildberries logistics hub. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the raids “our long‑range sanctions” against Russian facilities that finance Moscow’s war.
The Engels airfield, a key base for Tu‑95MC and Tu‑160 bombers, was reported damaged with a blaze igniting after the attack. Governor Roman Busargin confirmed civilian infrastructure damage and acknowledged two fatalities.
Russia reported eight deaths in the same Ukrainian‑led strike, and it said 635 drones were shot down or intercepted. Moscow also highlighted another strike on a Wildberries warehouse that caused a fire, and claimed counter‑hits on Ukrainian maritime ports and vessels in the Black Sea.
The clashes illustrate a growing focus on strategic economic and military targets, with both Ukrainian and Russian forces striking warehouses of major online retailers such as Wildberries and Rozetka, as well as targeted military logistics hubs. Amid a largely static front line, these high‑profile attacks underline the stagnation of diplomatic efforts to end the war.
