Ukraine has defied US President Donald Trump by launching a massive drone attack on Russian oil and chemical facilities, using at least 650 kamikaze drones. The overnight assault targeted Moscow's oil complexes and set off major blazes and explosions at the Samara Linear Production Station, described as Europe's "biggest tank park."
The station handles major oil pipelines stretching from Western Siberia, Tatarstan, Orenburg and Kazakhstan, playing a crucial role in Russia's oil export industry and supply. Explosions were heard within Samara City, about 500 miles southeast of Moscow, as Ukraine stepped up pressure on the Kremlin.
Attack launched despite Trump's demand
The attack was approved despite Trump demanding Kyiv reduce pressure on Russia's oil production. Trump has suggested Ukraine's attacks are worsening the global oil crisis, an attempt to shift blame for fuel price increases away from his war on Iran and pressure on the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said this week: "Diesel is really hurt much more, not by the Middle East, but by what's going on in Russia, because those diesel refineries are being knocked out at a pretty alarming rate. Mr Zelenskyy has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia… Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel, because he is causing a shortage of diesel."
Russian retaliation on Kyiv
Russian forces responded with a major drone attack on bridges and buildings within Kyiv, launching more than 100 unmanned planes, at least half of them jet-powered. The strikes killed one person and hit three major bridges linking the city across the Dnipro River.
The cross-border exchanges come as Russia faces increasing pressure over its war on Ukraine, having made little progress in more than four years of brutal warfare. Russia has lost 1,537,390 troops to death and injury since the conflict began.
Military expansion and North Korean involvement
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the size of its armed forces to 2.4 million, including 1.5 million active-duty military personnel. President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia has begun additional mobilization and is expanding its use of North Korean troops.
Zelensky recently warned Kim Jong-un is preparing to send a further 10,000 troops to Ukraine, having already deployed 14,000. In exchange, Russia has provided drone production to Pyongyang. As many as 6,000 North Korean troops are believed to have been killed in Ukraine.
