Ukraine Strikes Russian Fuel Pipeline, Fighting Intensifies in Eastern City of Pokrovsk
Ukrainian forces targeted a key fuel pipeline in the Moscow region late yesterday, disrupting supplies to the Russian army, as intense fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, particularly around the city of Pokrovsk.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) reported the strike on the Koltsevoy pipeline, which spans 400 kilometers and delivers gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from refineries in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Moscow. HUR stated that all three fuel lines near Ramensky district were destroyed, impacting the pipeline’s capacity to transport up to 3 million tons of jet fuel, 2.8 million tons of diesel, and 1.6 million tons of gasoline annually. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of HUR, asserted, “Our strikes have had more impact than sanctions,” referencing international penalties imposed on Russia following the 2022 invasion. This attack represents a significant attempt to degrade Russia’s logistical capabilities as the conflict enters its third year.
Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry claimed its forces repelled a Ukrainian special forces team attempting to halt their advance on Pokrovsk, a crucial Ukrainian stronghold in the Donetsk region. The situation in Pokrovsk remains contested, with Ukrainian officials acknowledging some Russian infiltration but maintaining control. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that Russia has deployed approximately 170,000 troops to the Donetsk region, signaling a major offensive to seize the city and potentially claim a decisive battlefield victory. For more background on the conflict, see the Council on Foreign Relations’ coverage.
Elsewhere, a Russian ballistic missile strike in the Mykolaiv region this morning killed one civilian and injured fifteen, including a child, according to local official Vitaliy Kim. Another strike ignited a fire at a gas plant in the Poltava region. These attacks are part of a sustained Russian campaign targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in widespread power outages and restrictions. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly intercepted 206 of 223 drones launched overnight, though seventeen still struck targets across seven regions. The ongoing attacks highlight the vulnerability of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and the escalating nature of the war, as detailed by the United Nations.
Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the Russian defense ministry’s claims regarding Pokrovsk, but continue to assess the evolving situation on the ground.
