Ukraine Carries Out Drone Strikes On Three Russian Oil Rigs In Caspian Sea

Ukraine carried out overnight drone strikes on three Russian oil drilling platforms in the Caspian Sea, targeting energy facilities that it says help support Russia’s war effort.

Ukraine’s General Staff reported that the platforms, V. Filanovsky, Valery Graifer, and Yuri Korchagin, were hit directly during the operation.

The offshore installations are owned by Russian oil major Lukoil and are used for oil and gas production. Ukrainian officials said the extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO), which conducted the strikes on the night of 11 January, said the platforms supply fuel linked to Russian military operations.

The SSO released video footage showing drones flying towards the oil rigs before detonating. Ukrainian forces said the same platforms had also been targeted several times in December.

Video Credits: The Independent/YouTube

Additionally, Ukraine reported hitting a Buk-M3 medium-range air defence missile system in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine’s Luhansk region.

Preliminary information suggested multiple hits and explosions. Ukrainian forces also said they struck a warehouse and material and technical support unit belonging to Russia’s 49th Combined Arms Army near Novotroitske in the occupied part of Kherson region, with the aim of disrupting Russian logistics.

Ukraine has increased attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, targeting refineries, sea terminals, offshore platforms and vessels linked to what Kyiv describes as Russia’s shadow fleet.

Meanwhile, Russian officials reported Ukrainian drone activity over the city of Voronezh in southwestern Russia. Local authorities said one person was killed and at least four others were injured.

Regional Governor Alexander Gusev said Russian air defences shot down 17 drones, calling it one of the largest drone attacks on the city since the war began.

The Ukrainian strikes came shortly after Russia carried out one of its largest attacks in weeks, launching hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles across Ukraine.

The Russian strikes damaged energy infrastructure and caused widespread power and heating outages.

Ukrainian energy company DTEK said tens of thousands of residents in Kyiv were left without electricity, while city officials reported that thousands of apartment buildings were without heating as temperatures dropped well below freezing.

References: Kyivindependent, hindustantimes

Source: Maritime Shipping News