From The Straits Times · · 1m 40s
Ukraine Targets Russian Refineries
Ukraine plans to strike Russian oil refineries after Moscow's new air strike doctrine.
In brief
Ukraine plans to strike Russian oil refineries after Moscow's new air strike doctrine. Ukraine will hit Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow's new doctrine targeting civilian infrastructure to force evacuations without targeting civilians. Originally reported by The Straits Times.
Ukraine's Response to New Doctrine
Ukraine will intensify attacks on Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow’s new doctrine targeting civilian infrastructure to force evacuations, but will avoid hitting civilian objects.
“We saw documents and we know that they allow them to attack infrastructure... logistics... roads, schools, hospitals, to pressure people to leave the capital, leave different cities”
Zelensky on Putin's Strategy
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin’s new doctrine aims to force people to abandon cities by targeting infrastructure, driven by his military losing ground in key front-line regions.
“Driving the shift in policy, zelensky said, was putin’s desire to appear strong at a time when his military was losing ground in a key front-line region and sustaining higher levels of casualties.”
Russian Drone Strikes on Kyiv
Russian drones and missiles have targeted kyiv’s energy and infrastructure, including bridges across the dnieper river, for the first time this week.
“For the first time, russia has targeted the bridges across the dnieper river connecting east and west kyiv.”
Donbas Counteroffensive
Ukrainian forces have recaptured around 140 sq km in donbas amid ongoing counteroffensive, code-named 'vivaldi'.
“Zelensky said an ongoing ukrainian counteroffensive, code-named 'vivaldi', had recaptured around 140 sq km of ukraine’s eastern donbas region”
Zelensky on Peace Talks
Zelensky urged u.s. not to normalize relations with russia before ensuring peace, warning that peace is more important than economic ties.
“It’s not fair just to normalize, said zelensky, dressed in his trademark black t-shirt and military-style jacket. Any resumption of economic and diplomatic ties with the west had to be in return for peace, he said.”
Ukraine's New Defenses
Ukraine is developing five new interceptor drones to counter russian jet-powered drones, with tests showing a 30% success rate.
“Last week, zelensky said ukraine was developing five models of new interceptor drones capable of downing the jet shaheds. Fresh from a meeting with his defence chiefs, he said tests on two of those models showed a modest success rate of around 30%.”
FP-7 Ballistic Missile
Ukraine announced first combat use of domestically made ballistic missile fp-7 with a range of 250km.
“Ukraine announced the first combat use this week of its own domestically made ballistic missile, the fp-7, which has a range of around 250km.”
FP-9 Development
Zelensky pressured fire point to finish longer-range fp-9 missile capable of hitting moscow by autumn 2027.
“Zelensky said he had called the manufacturer fire point to pressure executives to finish quickly a longer-range model, the fp-9, which the company has said could hit moscow.”
European Funding
Ukraine secured funding from europe to cover a us$27 billion defense budget shortfall through 2027 using eu loan credits.
“Ukrainian officials had worked on plans with european partners to plug a us$27 billion (s$34.5 billion) hole in kyiv’s defense budget in 2026.”
Russia's Drone Threat
Russia has launched dozens of fast jet-powered shahed drones daily, forcing ukraine to rely on f-16s and migs to down 60% of them.
“Zelensky said ukraine had been forced to rely heavily on its fighter aircraft, f-16s and migs, to down around 60% of the russian jet-powered drones, but supplies of 20mm ammunition for the planes were running low.”
The key point
Ukraine will hit Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow's new doctrine targeting civilian infrastructure to force evacuations without targeting civilians.
