Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, stated: “Through direct actions, we have inflicted far greater losses on the Russian Federation than any economic leverage introduced so far.”
However, he emphasized that the current sanctions pressure from Western partners on Russia remains insufficient. “If things continue as they are, it will not affect the worldview of the Russian Federation. But taken together, it will have its effect,” added the Head of the HUR, Budanov.
Over the past month, Ukrainians have carried out numerous effective strikes on Russian oil refineries (NPZ). The most recent successful attacks targeted the Novokuybyshevsk Oil Refinery in Russia’s Samara region and the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant (Orenburg region), both of which caught fire after the strikes. In addition, a fuel and lubricant depot in temporarily occupied Berdiansk and an ammunition depot near the Kinburn Spit were hit.
On the night of October 18, in Russia’s Ulyanovsk region, drones attacked the Veshkaima substation, one of the key elements of the region’s power grid. There was also an explosion at the Avangard ammunition plant in Bashkortostan.
Earlier, on October 17, Ukraine’s Defense Forces launched a series of precise strikes on military targets and fuel-and-energy infrastructure in temporarily occupied Crimea. During the attack, Russian forces accidentally shot down their own fighter jet.
Meanwhile, Russia is expanding one of its main strategic aviation bases, Engels-2. New parking areas for missile-carrying bombers are being built there — aircraft that Russia uses for massive strikes on Ukrainian cities.
