Zelenskyy orders advance action against Russian war facilities

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late Wednesday ordered his country's intelligence services and armed forces to conduct preemptive strikes against Russian military facilities used to sustain the war effort, citing briefings from his defense intelligence chief on the impact of recent energy attacks. In an evening video address, Zelenskyy said he received a detailed briefing from Defense Intelligence Chief Oleh Ivashchenko regarding strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, claiming Ukrainian intelligence had obtained "some internal Russian documents" assessing that these attacks are being "felt painfully" by Moscow.

Long-range operations

The Ukrainian leader noted that his forces have struck targets located more than 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) from the front lines, including Russian army communication centers. "I instructed our intelligence and our army to act in advance against the facilities the Russians use to scale up the war," Zelenskyy said, adding that Moscow is currently reallocating air defense assets to protect the capital, the town of Valdai, and the Kerch Bridge — constructed following Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea to link the peninsula with the Russian mainland.

Fuel crisis expands

Zelenskyy also asserted that over 60 Russian regions are now experiencing fuel shortages due to sustained Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries. Russian-installed officials in Crimea announced over the weekend that fuel sales to individuals and businesses had been suspended entirely, with remaining supplies reserved for essential public services.

Earlier this month, Ukraine's General Staff claimed its forces had struck 16 major Russian oil refineries and fuel terminals, taking more than 30 percent of refining capacity offline. Due to recent attacks, several facilities suspended operations for maintenance, prompting Moscow to periodically impose restrictions aimed at stabilizing the domestic fuel market.