KYIV, Ukraine, July 18 (ANI): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that Ukraine’s long-range and medium-range drones successfully struck several strategic Russian logistics facilities deep inside Russia and in Russian-occupied territories.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy said the retaliatory strikes hit two major logistics facilities in the Moscow and Tambov regions, located more than 500 kilometers (311 miles) and nearly 700 kilometers (435 miles) from the front line, respectively.
According to Zelenskyy, the facilities were being used to supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment.
“In particular, in response to Russian strikes on our civilian infrastructure and on our cities and communities, two major logistics facilities were hit—in the Moscow and Tambov regions, more than 500 and nearly 700 kilometers from the front line. The aggressor used them to supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment,” he wrote, adding that an oil facility was also struck.
Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian medium-range strikes targeted locations in the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea, and Russian-occupied Crimea.
He said the operations were carried out in response to continued Russian attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, cities, and communities.
“In addition, Ukrainian mid-range strikes engaged targets in the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, and in our temporarily occupied Crimea. I thank the warriors of the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Special Operations Forces, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine—every unit of Ukraine’s Defence Forces—for their precise and coordinated execution of these missions. Glory to Ukraine!” Zelenskyy said.
The developments came as Deutsche Welle (DW) reported that Ukrainian drone attacks killed seven people and injured 51 others across Russia while also striking logistics facilities and igniting a fire at an oil depot near Moscow.
Citing Tambov region Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov, DW reported that seven night-shift workers were killed and 25 others were injured when drones struck a warehouse operated by Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, in the town of Kotovsk on Saturday.
Kotovsk is located about 360 kilometers (224 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
Pervyshov said Russian air defenses also intercepted 28 drones approaching the region and claimed the number of casualties could have been much higher.
A second Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Moscow, was also struck, injuring 24 people, according to DW, citing Moscow regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov.
DW also reported that Wildberries co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Tatyana Kim described the attacks as a “terrible night” for both Russia and the company and expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
Following the military updates, Zelenskyy said he and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa held extensive strategy meetings with corps commanders responsible for the most active sectors of the front.
He said the discussions focused on combat operations in the Sloviansk, Pokrovsk, and Oleksandrivka directions, as well as the Kharkiv region.
The meetings also addressed the need for additional 155 mm artillery shells, expanded medium-range strike capabilities, and increased production and deployment of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs).
“Today, together with Pavlo Palisa, we continued our discussions with the corps commanders defending the most intense sections of the front. We discussed the nature and specific features of combat operations on the front, particularly in the Sloviansk, Pokrovsk, and Oleksandrivka directions, as well as in the Kharkiv region and other, in many respects, difficult sectors. All of the commanders emphasize the importance of our fair personnel distribution program for combat brigades. The program has been in place since December and has proven its effectiveness in virtually every brigade,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president also highlighted operational adjustments aimed at countering Russian advances and strengthening Ukraine’s active defense.
“We discussed the necessary supply of weapons and equipment for combat operations, carrying out rotations, protecting our logistics, and destroying Russian logistics. We need more long-range artillery—155 mm shells. We identified the additional assets that must be supplied for medium-range strikes. We will speak with manufacturers and everyone involved in supplying them about additional opportunities. I thank all developers and manufacturers of UGVs. This is an obvious priority for our forces, and supplies must increase. We also reviewed operational information regarding the occupiers’ tasks that the Russians are trying to carry out, and the prospects for our active defense. I especially want to thank Brigadier General Voloshyn for his proposals on scaling up across the corps the work that is already producing results at the brigade level in upgrading equipment and in-house production,” he said.
The latest developments come as Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone campaign targeting Russian military installations, energy infrastructure, and logistics hubs in an effort to disrupt Moscow’s ability to sustain frontline operations. (ANI)
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