Ukraine has delivered a stinging blow to Vladimir Putin by targeting an oil pipeline inside Russia.
Kyiv's military struck oil facilities near Bryansk, positioned merely 235 miles southwest of Moscow and roughly 60 miles from Ukraine's border. Stainless Steel Gas Pipe
Russia's economy has been hit hard because of the war and Putin is also facing another humiliation in Syria.
A statement from the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces released Wednesday by The Kyiv Independent detailed that the oil-loading line was ignited.
Photographic evidence purportedly capturing the strike's aftermath depicted a massive fireball and smoke plumes against the evening sky's backdrop.
Russian officials have contended their air defenses downed 14 drones around the region while also reporting a fire at a Bryansk production site.
Kyiv highlighted that the assault on the Druzhba oil pipeline's loading station was a concerted operation between their military intelligence and Unmanned Systems Forces.
The Druzhba pipeline, considered one of the longest globally, transports oil from Russia through Ukraine and into nations such as Poland and Hungary in Europe.
Ukrainian authorities assert the pipeline plays a role in ferrying fuel to Russian troops in occupied Ukrainian territories and in managing diesel storage and distribution for tanks and freight trains.
Amidst escalating tensions, Moscow has intensified its focus on Ukrainian energy structures, aiming to strain Ukrainian fortitude by driving them into a harsh winter with limited resources.
Just last month, Russia inflicted what Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko described as a "massive blow" on Ukraine's power matrix via a robust aerial onslaught.
A US intelligence report disclosed Wednesday indicates that Russia may soon redeploy its powerful new intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, for use against Ukraine, per two US officials.
The Oreshnik missile, used notably last month, is regarded more as a scare tactic than a game-changer on the battlefield in Ukraine, one official remarked.
This looming threat arises amid ongoing efforts by both sides to secure an upper hand in the close to three-year-long conflict, which President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to resolve.
Adding to the escalation, the US recently committed nearly $1 billion in additional security support to Ukraine, and discussions of potential peace negotiations initiated by other Western partners might take place this winter.
According to one source, American intelligence points to possible preparations for another missile launch before the end of this month or even earlier. The other cited a timeframe within the "coming days."
Both officials spoke anonymously due to the classified nature of the details.
Moreover, in what appears to be a preparatory move for counteraction, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed Ukraine utilized six US-produced ATACMS missiles against an airbase in Taganrog, located in southern Russia's Rostov region, injuring personnel on Wednesday.
The ministry reported that an air defense system intercepted two missiles while electronic warfare capabilities diverted the remaining four.
The ministry issued a stark warning in their recent statement, saying: "This attack with Western long-range weapons will not be left unanswered, and relevant measures will be taken."
As the conflict intensifies, both Russia and Ukraine are rushing to secure a military and diplomatic advantage before anticipated peace talks, which are predicted to follow the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.
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