In what Ukrainian officials are calling one of the most significant blows to Russia’s military logistics since the start of the war, Ukrainian forces have reportedly struck a vital fuel pipeline in the Moscow region — a bold and symbolic escalation deep inside Russian territory.
According to a statement released by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) late Friday, the operation targeted the Koltsevoy pipeline, a sprawling 250-mile system that channels millions of tonnes of jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline each year to Russian military installations. The strike, which hit infrastructure near the Ramensky district, destroyed all three main fuel lines, effectively choking a major artery that has sustained Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov didn’t mince words when describing the attack’s significance:
“Our strikes have had more impact than sanctions,” he declared, referencing the West’s ongoing campaign of economic restrictions that have yet to fully derail Russia’s military operations.
The Koltsevoy pipeline is not just another piece of infrastructure — it’s the circulatory system of the Russian war machine. It feeds military airfields, armored divisions, and logistics hubs across the central regions of the Russian Federation. Its destruction represents a rare instance of Ukraine taking the fight directly to the logistical heart of Moscow’s war apparatus.
A “Serious Blow” to Moscow’s Military Nerve Center
The Koltsevoy pipeline, which connected refineries in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Moscow, was capable of transporting:
-
3 million tonnes of jet fuel
-
2.8 million tonnes of diesel
-
1.6 million tonnes of gasoline annually
By hitting this system, Ukraine has not only damaged Russia’s fuel supply but also undermined its confidence in the supposed security of its core territories.
Budanov’s agency described the attack as “a serious blow” to Russia’s military infrastructure — and it’s easy to see why. Moscow’s army has been running on overstretched logistics for months, with its front-line operations in Donetsk and Luhansk increasingly dependent on long-range supply chains vulnerable to disruption.
Russia’s Counterclaims and Confusion on the Frontlines
As Kyiv celebrates a successful deep-strike operation, Moscow has tried to shift the narrative. Russia’s defense ministry claimed over the weekend that its troops had repelled Ukrainian special forces near Pokrovsk, a fiercely contested city in the Donetsk region. Videos posted by the ministry showed captured Ukrainian soldiers describing “encirclement” and “intense fighting” — though the authenticity of those clips remains unverified.
Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, pushed back firmly, saying:
“There is no encirclement or blockade. A comprehensive operation to destroy and push out enemy forces from Pokrovsk is ongoing.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that some Russian units had penetrated parts of the city but insisted they were being “weeded out.” He also revealed that Russia has deployed about 170,000 troops in the Donetsk region in what many analysts see as a desperate push to capture a symbolic victory before winter sets in.
The Bigger Picture: A War of Attrition
The latest developments underscore a grim reality: both sides are engaged in a war that is no longer just about territorial control but economic endurance and strategic disruption.
Russia continues to bombard Ukraine’s power grid and energy infrastructure in what Kyiv calls “systematic energy terror.” Just this weekend, Russian missiles struck civilian and industrial targets in Mykolaiv and Poltava, leaving at least one dead and over a dozen injured, including a child.
Ukraine, meanwhile, is increasingly using precision drone and sabotage operations to strike deep within Russian borders — targeting oil depots, air bases, and now a major fuel artery — signaling a shift from defensive resilience to strategic offense.
The War Comes Home for Moscow
The attack on the Koltsevoy pipeline is not just a logistical problem for the Kremlin — it’s a psychological one. It punctures the illusion that Russia’s heartland is untouchable and exposes vulnerabilities in the very system that sustains its war machine.
As energy fires rage closer to Moscow, Putin’s image of invincibility grows thinner. The message from Kyiv is clear: no part of Russia is beyond the reach of Ukrainian resolve.
No comments:
Post a Comment