Ukraine strikes Crimea airfields and Russian oil sites as Moscow seeks drone operators
Story Timeline
11 months · 66 summary articles
Ukraine escalates strikes on Russian logistics and energy infrastructure, killing one in Crimea as Moscow scrambles to defend Moscow with drone operators
Ukraine launched a series of precision strikes on Russian-occupied Crimea overnight, killing one person and leaving two others injured, according to Moscow-installed officials. The attacks targeted northern Crimea, including a strike on a station in the region, while Ukrainian forces also hit St. Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region with a large drone assault that damaged oil infrastructure and a local port. The strikes came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed a “real prospect” of ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict following a phone call with Donald Trump, with both leaders agreeing to continue discussions in person at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported that Ukraine’s forces struck over 200,000 Russian military assets in June alone, with a focus on disrupting enemy logistics. “Our main focus is the enemy's logistics,” Fedorov said on Telegram. “Destroying warehouses, transport and supply routes reduces the enemy's ability to sustain its units.” In June, Ukrainian troops killed or seriously wounded nearly 28,000 Russian soldiers, while also setting records for intercepting 49,575 fixed-wing and multirotor drones—the highest figure on record—and destroying Russian vehicles and motorcycles. Fedorov noted that every strike was verified on video, enabling real-time battlefield adjustments.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed overnight strikes on an airfield, ammunition depots, and bridges across occupied Ukraine. The Hvardiiske airfield in Crimea, a key Russian military hub, was among the targets, along with two bridges in Donetsk Oblast and ammunition depots in occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson regions. Commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, said Kyiv had hit 16 power stations across Crimea over the past 48 hours, causing widespread blackouts. “Hvardiiske airfield is one of the key military airfields of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula,” the General Staff wrote on Telegram. “It is used for basing operational-tactical and naval aircraft, ensuring combat sorties, logistics, and technical maintenance of aviation equipment.”
The intensified drone campaign has spurred Russia’s worst fuel crisis in decades, according to the *Financial Times*. Since January 2026, Ukraine has struck Russian oil refineries at least 194 times—11 times more than the same period last year—with May setting a monthly record of 16 hits. US intelligence is reportedly assisting in plotting drone routes around Russian air defences, Ukrainian officials told the *FT*. The campaign has expanded beyond oil infrastructure to target Russia’s broader energy, logistics, and export systems, according to Rochan Consulting director Muzyka. Meanwhile, a Moscow source told the *FT* that Russia is unlikely to engage in meaningful talks before February 2027.
Russia has responded to the escalating threats by advertising for drone operators to defend Moscow, with job listings on the country’s largest employment website, HeadHunter, requiring only “basic technical skills” and no prior experience. The move underscores the strain on Russia’s military resources as Ukraine’s strikes intensify. The Kremlin has also accused Poland of producing drones for Ukraine, warning Warsaw to “reflect on its own security,” while Polish intelligence chief suggested Russia could continue the war for several more years.
Amid the fighting, conflicting claims emerged over the strategic town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region, with Russia asserting full control while Ukraine denied the claim. Russia had proposed a six-hour ceasefire to facilitate the handover of Ukrainian soldiers’ bodies, but Kyiv rejected the offer, according to the Russian Defence Ministry. The town remains a key contested locality in Russia’s military campaign in the Donetsk region.
Follow us for live European news
- 2
- 2
- 1
5 further sources not geolocated
Articles
Ukrainian forces struck over 200,000 Russian military assets in June, defence minister reports – video Ukraines defence forces struck more than 200,000 Russian military assets in June and intercepted a record 49,575 Russian drones.
ukrpravda · about 11 hours ago
Polish deputy speaker claims government secretly transferred Patriot missiles to Ukraine Krzysztof Bosak, co-leader of Polands far-right, anti-Ukrainian Confederation party and Deputy Marshal of the Sejm, has claimed that the Polish government secretly transferred Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine in March.
ukrpravda · about 11 hours ago
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv hits Crimea with airstrikes as Zelensky and Putin speak to Trump before Nato summit It comes as St Petersburg was struck by large Ukrainian drone attack overnight
independent · about 12 hours ago
Russia claims five settlements in eastern, northeastern Ukraine Russias Defense Ministry announced the capture of five settlements in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, while Ukrainian authorities reported repelling assaults near the contested village of Shyikivka on the Lyman front.
yenisafak · about 12 hours ago
📰 Russia attacks Kharkiv and Izium: one killed, injuries reported🔗 #RussianInvasion #RussianWar #Ukraine
mastodon bot · about 12 hours ago
TOYS AMONG RUINS: Special report on Russian war crimes against Ukraines smallest children #Ukraine - YouTube
mastodon bot · about 12 hours ago
⚡️Update: General Staff, Brovdi confirm major strikes across occupied Ukraine, Crimea Ukraines General Staff and Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraines Unmanned Systems Forces, confirmed that Ukrainian forces hit the Hvardiiske airfield, key logistics bridges, and 16 power stations across Crimea.
bluesky_Kyiv Independent · about 12 hours ago
🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 - Media surfaced of Russian forces waving their flags in the north-eastern-most residential part of Kostyantynivka, 90 of Kostyantynivka is now either under Russian control or a grey zone. Ukrainian forces still control the northwestern residential part of the city where they have been conducting local counterattacks.
telegram_GeoPWatch · about 12 hours ago
Russia attacks Bohodukhiv in Kharkiv Oblast, killing two Russian drones attacked Bohodukhiv in Kharkiv Oblast on 5 July, killing two men. Two women suffered acute stress reactions, and shops and cars were damaged.
ukrpravda · about 12 hours ago
Ukraines General Staff reports strike on Russian airfield in Crimea and bridges in Donetsk Oblast Ukraines defence forces struck Hvardiiske airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea on the night of 4-5 July.
ukrpravda · about 12 hours ago
New video shows Ukrainian forces using German Skynex air defence system to down Russian cruise missile Ukrainian military personnel have posted a video of a Skynex anti-aircraft artillery system, manufactured by Germanys Rheinmetall, being used to down a Russian cruise missile.
ukrpravda · about 12 hours ago
Vance believes Russias offensive capabilities in war with Ukraine approaching zero The Russians are now in a situation where their offensive operations are achieving almost nothing on the battlefield, while Ukraines successes are helping to create the conditions needed to end the war.
ukrpravda · about 12 hours ago
Ukraine striking Russian energy infrastructure at unprecedented rate Kyivs intensified drone campaign is spurring Russias worst fuel crisis in decades
financial times · about 12 hours ago
📰 Russians attacking Ukrainian gas extraction facilities for second consecutive day🔗 #RussianInvasion #RussianWar #Ukraine
mastodon bot · about 12 hours ago
Ukraine has struck Russian oil refineries at least 194 times since January 2026, 11 times more than the same period last year, FT reports citing Rochan Consulting. May alone set a monthly record with 16 hits. US intelligence is helping plot drone routes around Russian air defenses, Ukrainian officials told FT. The campaign has grown from targeting oil into a broader strike on Russias energy, logistics and export systems, Rochan director Muzyka says. Meanwhile a Moscow source tells FT Russia is unlikely to engage in meaningful talks before February 2027.
telegram_WarTranslated · about 12 hours ago
Kremlin claims complete capture of Kostiantynivka as Kyiv rejects reports Russian forces are attempting to seize the frontline city of Kostiantynivka, a critical hub in the fortress belt of Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, sparking conflicting claims over its control. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters late on 3 July that Russian forces had fully captured the city, though he provided no evidence. The Kremlin also […]
in-cyprus · about 12 hours ago
Russian drone hits gas station in Kharkiv, two injured A Russian drone struck a gas station in Kharkivs Kyivskyi district on the afternoon of July 5, leaving two men injured.
ukrinform · about 12 hours ago
Ukraines Sargan-3000 naval drone was presented in an FPV drone carrier variant, additionally fitted with a remote weapon station. The type first appeared in combat conditions in early June, when one washed ashore and detonated in the waters of Romanias Constanța port. #Ukraine
mastodon bot · about 12 hours ago
📰 Russian drone attacks car in central Kherson: two injured🔗 #RussianInvasion #RussianWar #Ukraine
mastodon bot · about 12 hours ago
📰 Russians using Molniya attack drones to deliver supplies to their positions – video🔗 #RussianInvasion #RussianWar #Ukraine
mastodon bot · about 12 hours ago
📰 Ukrainian officials say Crimea is not fully isolated but Russian supply routes are under escalating pressure🔗 #RussianInvasion #RussianWar #Ukraine
mastodon bot · about 12 hours ago
Russian forces shell Sumy region more than 110 times over past day, seven people injured Over the past day, the Russian army carried out more than 110 attacks on 23 settlements in the Sumy region, injuring seven people.
ukrinform · about 12 hours ago
Defense Forces hit more than 200,000 enemy targets in June – Fedorov In June 2026, Ukraines Defense Forces struck more than 200,000 Russian targets, while the intensity of strikes against targets in temporarily occupied Crimea increased significantly.
ukrinform · about 12 hours ago
Russian drone attacks Bohodukhiv, leaving two killed Russian forces attacked the town of Bohodukhiv in the Kharkiv region with drones, killing two people.
ukrinform · about 12 hours ago
Russian drone strikes Kharkiv, injuries reported Russian forces attacked the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv, injuring five people.
ukrinform · about 12 hours ago
Defense forces strike Russian UAV instructors in Pokrovsk Defense forces carried out an airstrike on a neighborhood in Pokrovsk, where Russian instructors from the Rubicon center were observed training UAV crews.
ukrinform · about 12 hours ago
General Staff releases footage from Kostiantynivka after Russian false claims of its capture The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has released a video from Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region, which is under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
ukrinform · about 12 hours ago
Defense forces strike airfield in Crimea, Russian ammunition depots, and bridges On the night of July 5, a unit of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Hvardiyske airfield in the temporarily occupied Crimea as part of efforts to reduce the Russian aggressors offensive capabilities.
ukrinform · about 12 hours ago
Kyiv under attack, defensive line, and Lavender Run Ukraine continues to resist a full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation. Ukrinform photojournalists are documenting life during the war.
ukrinform · about 12 hours ago
Russia launched nearly 2,200 drones, over 1,730 guided bombs, and 106 missiles against Ukraine in one week — Zelensky President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that over the course of the week, Russia launched approximately 2,200 attack drones, more than 1,730 guided aerial bombs, and 106 missiles of various types at Ukraine.
ukrinform · about 12 hours ago