Ukraine launches massive drone strike on Russian oil facilities

Ukraine launched an extensive drone offensive against Russian targets, with reports indicating more than 1,000 unmanned aircraft were deployed in the operation. The strikes targeted oil infrastructure facilities, with significant fire damage reported at an oil terminal located in the St Petersburg region.

The scale of the attack underscores Ukraine's growing capability to strike deep into Russian territory using drone technology. Ukrainian officials have previously demonstrated the capacity to conduct such large-scale operations targeting energy infrastructure and military installations hundreds of kilometres from the front lines.

President Zelenskyy announced that intelligence sharing between Ukraine and the United States had resumed following a temporary suspension, signalling improved coordination between Kyiv and Washington. The restoration of intelligence cooperation represents a significant development in the ongoing military assistance provided by the US to Ukraine.

The drone strikes represent part of Ukraine's broader strategy to degrade Russia's energy infrastructure and economic capacity to sustain its military operations. Russian air defence systems have struggled to intercept the volume of drones deployed in such coordinated attacks.

The operation highlights the evolving nature of the conflict, with unmanned systems playing an increasingly central role in military operations on both sides of the ongoing war.