KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s military claimed it attacked a major oil terminal in Crimea that supplies fuel to Russian war efforts as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the war has entered a key phase.
Both sides are faced with the question of how to sustain their costly war of attrition – a conflict that began with Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and that shows no signs of resolution.
The Ukrainian General Staff said on social media that the oil terminal in Feodosia, on the southern coast of the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsulafueled the Russian military and that the attack was part of an ongoing effort to “undermine the military and economic potential of the Russian Federation.”
Russian-installed authorities in the city of Feodosia on the Black Sea coast reported a fire at the terminal on Monday morning, but did not say what might have caused it.
Ukraine has increasingly focused on rear areas key to the Russian attack, now well into its third year. It has developed long-range drones that have hit oil depots, refineries and weapons depots.
Ukraine’s goal is to hinder Russia’s ability to support its frontline units, especially domestically the eastern Donetsk region where the main Russian battlefield efforts are located tired Ukrainian forces.
Kiev is still waiting to hear from its Western partners about its situation repeated requests to use the long-range weapons they are intended to hit targets on Russian territory.
Developments in this area could take place next weekend at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, when defense leaders from the more than 50 partner countries coordinating military aid to Ukraine will meet.
The conflict has largely been a war of attrition, requiring large quantities of ammunition. Zelensky said late on Sunday that the war is in “a very important phase” as the Ukrainian military works hard to keep larger Russian forces in the east at bay, while also land in the Russian border region of Kurskwho recorded it two months ago.
Ukraine must “put pressure on Russia in the way necessary to make Russia realize that the war will not gain them anything,” Zelensky said in a video statement.
“We will continue to put even greater pressure on Russia – because only through strength can we bring peace closer,” he added.
Meanwhile, Russia fired six missiles of different types and 74 Shahed drones at Ukraine in one night, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
Rocket debris fell in three districts of Kiev, causing minor damage to civilian infrastructure and causing fires, Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said. He said no one was injured. Three rocket fragments fell on a kindergarten, he said, without elaborating.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down nearly 20 Ukrainian drones in one night.
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