Background on Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Against Russia
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian forces have been conducting counteroffensives by launching missile and drone attacks within Russia. These operations aim to diminish the enemy’s capability to carry out missile and bomb attacks.
Recent Developments
On Saturday, Ukraine announced that it had targeted a Russian oil refinery in the Ryazan region, close to Moscow. This attack came a day after deadly Russian bombardments in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.
According to social media posts from the Ukrainian military, the strike was part of their ongoing efforts to reduce Russia’s ability to launch missile and bomb attacks.
Russian Response to Ukrainian Attacks
Pavel Malkov, the governor of Ryazan, reported that Russian air defenses intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones over the region during the night.
The attack, which reportedly caused no casualties, occurred a day after seven people were killed in Russian bombardments in Kyiv.
Tymur Tkachenko, from Kyiv’s municipal administration, shared on social media that an elderly woman who was injured during the November 14 bombing passed away in the hospital. Among other victims were a couple in their seventies and a 62-year-old individual.
Authorities in the central Dnipropetrovsk region reported that a Russian drone wounded five people in Nikopol on Saturday, one of them seriously. Nikopol lies along the Dnieper River, which marks the frontline with Russian forces.
On the opposite bank of the Dnieper River, controlled by Russian forces, Yevgeny Balitsky, Moscow’s designated official, claimed that a Ukrainian drone struck power lines, causing power outages for approximately 44,000 customers.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is attacking whom? Ukrainian forces are targeting Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries and military installations, within Russia.
- Why are Ukrainian forces conducting these attacks? These operations aim to weaken Russia’s military capabilities and deter further attacks on Ukraine.
- What is the significance of the Ryazan region? The targeted refinery in Ryazan is crucial for supplying oil to various parts of Russia, including Moscow.
- What was the impact of the recent drone attack in Nikopol? The drone strike caused power outages for around 44,000 customers on the opposite bank of the Dnieper River, where Russian forces are stationed.
- How has the Russian government responded to Ukrainian attacks? Russia claims that its air defenses have intercepted numerous Ukrainian drones and attributes power outages to Ukrainian drone strikes on power lines.
