Photo: Ukrainian Armed Forces strike Russian strategic energy facilities (Russian media)© RBC-Ukraine (UK)

Ukraine strikes deep Into Russia, hitting key oil terminal and military fuel refinery

Ukrainian forces have launched a series of long-range strikes against major Russian energy and military logistics targets, hitting a critical Baltic oil export terminal and a refinery deep inside Russian territory.

The attacks — confirmed by the Ukrainian military and intelligence sources — signal Kyiv’s growing ability to disrupt Russia’s fuel infrastructure far beyond the battlefield. Fires erupted at several facilities after the strikes, raising fresh pressure on Moscow’s energy supply chain.

Baltic Oil Hub Erupts in Flames

One of the main targets was the Port of Primorsk Oil Terminal, a strategic export hub operated by Russian pipeline giant Transneft.

According to Ukraine’s General Staff, drones struck oil storage tanks and loading infrastructure at the port. A large fire broke out shortly afterwards, with tanks holding crude oil and petroleum products reportedly burning.

The terminal is Russia’s largest oil port on the Baltic Sea, handling roughly 60 million tonnes of crude annually. Ukrainian security officials say it is also used to move oil via Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” to international markets.

Strike Reaches Deep Into Russian Interior

In a separate attack, Ukrainian forces hit the Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim Refinery, a key fuel processing plant supplying the Russian military.

The refinery — capable of processing up to eight million tonnes of crude per year — sits roughly 1,400 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian officials said a fire broke out at the facility following the strike.

The attack highlights Kyiv’s expanding long-range strike capability against strategic targets inside Russia.

Air Defences and Drone Bases Targeted

Ukraine also reported destroying several Russian air defence systems, including the Tor Missile System and the 2S6 Tunguska anti-aircraft platform.

A radar installation — the Nebo-U Radar System — was struck in Russia’s Bryansk region. Ukrainian forces also hit logistics hubs, ammunition depots and fuel storage sites in occupied parts of the Donetsk Region.

Storage facilities for Iranian-designed Shahed drones were reportedly targeted near Makiivka.

Energy Infrastructure Under Sustained Pressure

The latest strikes come amid a wider Ukrainian campaign against Russia’s energy network.

Earlier drone attacks set fire to a refinery in Saratov, where flames have reportedly burned for two days. Another strike hit an export oil terminal near the Black Sea port of Taman.

As Ukraine expands its reach deep into Russian territory, Moscow’s energy infrastructure — and the war economy it supports — is increasingly under fire.

Ukrainian forces strike Russian oil terminal and refinery

Ukrainian assault forces clear key village from Russian troops on Bakhmut–Sloviansk route

Ukrainian defenders have succeeded in clearing the village of Minkivka in the Donetsk region of Russian troops. This is a key settlement along the Bakhmut-Sloviansk highway, according to the Skelia Regiment.

"Assault units of the Skelia regiment carried out a swift and coordinated operation, as a result of which they cleared Minkivka—a key settlement on the Bakhmut-Sloviansk highway," the regiment says in a statement.

Ukrainian military clarifies that Russia’s advance has now been halted, and the situation in the area of the road has stabilized.

Ukrainian assault forces clear key village from Russian troops on Bakhmut–Sloviansk route

Ust-Luga is the second-largest and most modern seaport on the Baltic Sea and one of the largest in Europe.

it is located in Luga Bay of the Gulf of Finland, about 110 km from St. Petersburg and near the border with Estonia.

The port is multi-purpose, but its primary focus is energy exports. It serves as the terminal for the Baltic Pipeline System-II (BPS-II) oil pipeline.

Ukraine's partisans disable key rail hub near Luhansk, Russian supply line

The partisan group ATESH has carried out another successful sabotage operation near the temporarily occupied Luhansk. Agents disabled a railway hub, leaving a portion of the occupying forces without supplies, according to the ATESH Telegram channel.

According to ATESH, this railway line serves as a critical supply artery for Russian army units on the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, where the most intense fighting is currently taking place. “Disabling the relay cabinet has blocked traffic on this section. The trains did not arrive on time - frontline units were left without planned ammunition and spare parts resupply. This directly limits their offensive capabilities,” the partisans added.

Other ATESH sabotage operations

On March 15, it was reported that ATESH partisans destroyed a transformer in Sievierodonetsk that powered the headquarters of the 123rd Artillery Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces. As a result of the power outage, communication systems and equipment failed, leaving the unit unable to coordinate actions or issue and receive orders.

Ukraine's partisans disable key rail hub near Luhansk, Russian supply lines hit

Ukrainian paratroopers have completely liberated the village of Berezove in the Dnipropetrovsk region from Russian occupying forces, according to the official Telegram channel of the 95th Separate Air Assault Polissia Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.

Situation in the Dnipropetrovsk region

Ukrainian forces are conducting a planned offensive operation in the Oleksandrivka direction. According to the General Staff, the Defense Forces have already managed to liberate almost the entire territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region.

In addition, the active operations of the Air Assault Forces aim to disrupt Russia’s plans to advance in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. ISW analysts note that successful Ukrainian counterattacks in the south could completely undermine the enemy’s plans for the 2026 spring–summer campaign.

Armed Forces of Ukraine take control of Berezove in Dnipropetrovsk region

Russian soldiers surrendered to Ukraine’s drone forces without a single shot being fired

According to a March 26 statement from Ukraine’s 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura”, four Russian infantry soldiers were captured during an operation in the Sumy region. The brigade said the group had moved roughly 26 kilometers through a gas pipeline before attempting to advance across open ground and wooded terrain toward Ukrainian positions on the North-Slobozhanskyi axis.

The brigade stated that reconnaissance and strike UAVs, including heavy bomber-type drones, were deployed against the advancing troops. Operators also released smoke to push the soldiers out of cover while reducing risks for Ukrainian personnel.

“Our fighters had the task of securing the forest belt to prevent the enemy from reaching the settlement we are defending,” one servicemember said.

Under sustained drone pressure, four Russian soldiers emerged and surrendered with raised hands. They were taken into custody and added to Ukraine’s exchange pool.

Russian soldiers surrendered to Ukraine’s drone forces without a single shot being fired

The brigade said one detainee cited financial pressures, including unpaid alimony, as a reason for joining the military, while others had reportedly enlisted after prison sentences.

US general admits Ukraine outperforms American troops

A senior US commander has acknowledged that Ukrainian troops are now operating Patriot air defence systems with remarkable effectiveness. According to The Insider cited by Ziare, General Christopher Cavoli made the comments during closed-door Senate hearings, where he reflected on how quickly Ukrainian forces adapted to the complex system.

Cavoli admitted he was initially sceptical that Ukrainian troops could master such advanced technology in a short time. Training American personnel on Patriot systems typically takes years, making early expectations cautious. But the realities of war quickly overturned those assumptions.

“They have become like fish in water,” Cavoli said, describing how Ukrainian operators have grown into the role.

He noted that US forces are now learning from Ukraine’s battlefield experience, where systems are used under constant threat. Operating under relentless attacks, Ukrainian crews have had to refine their tactics while protecting the systems themselves.

US general admits Ukraine outperforms American troops

Ukraine reports first confirmed remote drone interception of Russian Shahed

Officials said the interception took place on March 24 during a large-scale wave of aerial attacks involving Russian Shahed drones. The system was operated from a location far removed from the launch site, according to official reporting.

The Ukrainian state platform United24 reports that the interception was performed using a long-range control system, allowing crews to engage targets without remaining near exposed positions.

The drone used was identified as a Litavr interceptor, equipped with long-range piloting technology developed by Wild Hornets, as reported by United24. Unlike earlier systems, operators no longer need to stay close to launch sites.

Ukraine reports first confirmed remote drone interception of Russian Shahed

Wild Hornets has, according to L’Independant, indicated that pilots can work from protected indoor locations. In material released by the company, one operator is shown controlling the drone from a hotel room while tracking an aerial target in real time.

Well it's obvious who Trump supports in the mess...

Russia 'using alcoholics from rehab' and deploying them on front line

Russian officials are reportedly deploying patients recovering from alcohol addiction to fight in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. A Russian serviceman confirmed the arrival of new recruits in his unit, describing them as older, physically unfit, and struggling with alcohol dependency.

These individuals were reportedly rounded up from rehab facilities, specifically mentioning Petrozavodsk near the border with Finland. The serviceman detailed that 'black recruiters' detained these men, confiscating their bank accounts and draining their funds.

Ukrainian officials have previously noted Moscow's strategy of relying on vulnerable and weak recruits to prolong its military campaign.

Russia 'using alcoholics from rehab' and deploying them on front line

These are the hard won skills that Ukraine is now exporting to the Middle east

Slowly, but the number of tanks is collapsing. Yesterdays weapon in a drone war

Keep those refineries on fire

Ukraine has begun deploying air defence units run by private companies, marking a new phase in the country’s effort to counter relentless Russian drone attacks.

The first units formed by industrial enterprises are already carrying out combat duties, according to Ukraine’s digital transformation minister Mykhailo Fedorov. More units are now being assembled across 13 additional companies as Kyiv expands its defensive network.

Businesses Turned Battlefield Defenders

The initiative was authorised by the Ukrainian government last year as drone attacks increasingly targeted power plants, factories and transport hubs.

Under the programme, companies are allowed to purchase and operate air defence equipment themselves. Their personnel receive training and operate under coordination from the Ukrainian Air Force, integrating directly into the country’s national air defence grid.

Officials say the goal is simple: rapidly expand defensive coverage without draining frontline military units.

First Drone Kills Recorded

The new corporate air defence teams have already seen combat.

According to Fedorov, the units have shot down several Russian drones in Kharkiv Oblast, including Iranian-designed Shahed drone models and Zala drone systems.

The interceptions mark the first confirmed operational success for the unusual public-private defence arrangement.

Russia’s Drone Barrage Intensifies

The programme comes as Russia dramatically expands its use of unmanned aerial attacks.

Hundreds of drones are launched toward Ukrainian cities and infrastructure sites each day, targeting energy facilities and industrial capacity. Ukrainian forces say most are intercepted, but the scale of the assault continues to stretch air defence systems.

During one overnight barrage, Russia launched 164 drones toward Ukraine. Ukrainian defenders reported shooting down 150 of them.

A Wartime Economy Moves to the Front Line

Kyiv’s decision to arm companies highlights how deeply the war has reshaped the country’s economy.

Factories, energy companies and logistics firms are no longer just rebuilding infrastructure — they are actively defending it.

For Ukraine, the message is clear: in a war fought increasingly by drones, every workplace may also become part of the air defence network.

Air defence units of Ukrainian companies start intercepting drones, minister says

MOSCOW, March 31 (Reuters) - Ukrainian drones on Tuesday struck Russia's Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga for the fifth time in 10 days, and industry sources told Reuters an oil loading terminal was hit, likely adding to Russia's difficulties in exporting crude.#

Kyiv has stepped up attacks on Russia's oil export infrastructure over the past month, launching its heaviest drone strikes of the more than four-year war against the Baltic ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk.

At least 40% of Russia's oil export capacity has been halted due to drone attacks, a disputed strike on a major pipeline and the seizure of tankers, according to Reuters calculations based on market data.

Ukrainian drones strike Russia's Ust-Luga port again, sources say oil terminal hit

Eyes in the Sky: Ukrainian Drone Crews Turn Zaporizhzhia Front into Deadly Surveillance Grid

What appears to be quiet farmland in southeastern Ukraine has become one of the most technologically intense battlefields of the war. Cameras, drones and underground operators now dominate the fight, turning open countryside into a lethal network of constant surveillance.

A frontline report from the area near Zaporizhzhia shows how drone warfare is reshaping combat — and forcing both sides to rethink how wars are fought.

Beneath the Fields, the War Is Run From Underground

An hour east of Zaporizhzhia, the landscape changes quickly. Trenches deepen, checkpoints multiply and anti-drone nets stretch across roads as Ukrainian units move toward hidden launch sites.

Inside a dug-in shelter, reconnaissance crews from Ukraine’s 423rd Unmanned Aerial Systems Battalion launch fixed-wing drones to scan Russian lines. Their mission is not to strike but to watch — tracking movements, bunkers and supply routes across the front.

Operator Bob told reporters the battlefield now depends on speed and visibility. “We’re not bombing today,” he said. “We’re looking.”

War from the Air — and Nowhere to Hide

Once a target is identified, coordinates can move through Ukraine’s strike network in minutes. Artillery units or first-person-view drones can hit positions long before Russian troops realise they have been spotted.

The result is a battlefield where mass assaults are increasingly impossible. Russian forces now move in small groups on foot, slipping through tree lines and fields to avoid detection.

Even so, the losses remain staggering. Bob estimates that out of 100 soldiers sent forward, perhaps 20 reach their destination.

The Frontline Has Expanded

Drone warfare has dramatically widened the danger zone. Areas once considered rear positions can now be reached by long-range FPV drones.

That means there are few safe spaces left near the front. A single blind spot in aerial coverage or a drained battery can decide who survives.

The Rise of the Drone Soldier

For Ukraine, the real shortage is no longer drones — it is trained operators.

Many of the soldiers flying them once worked in civilian careers such as engineering, IT, journalism and marketing. Now they guide aircraft, track targets and coordinate strikes from underground bunkers.

Another operator, Zhychyk, warned the war shows no sign of ending soon. The lesson, he said, is simple: modern wars are increasingly fought by whoever controls the sky.

Ukrainian drones are reshaping the battlefield in Zaporizhzhia

This is interesting, rather than running into the drone killing both drones, now they can hunt the enemy drones.

This is telling.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Mqf0ot-5g

Ukraine has struck high-value Russian drone assets in Crimea, destroying rare surveillance UAVs and critical air-defence infrastructure in a coordinated attack aimed at weakening Moscow’s military grip on the peninsula.

The operation, carried out on April 2, targeted a storage facility housing advanced drones along with key aviation systems used by Russia’s forces. Ukrainian officials say the strike is part of an accelerating campaign to dismantle Russia’s military network in Crimea.

Rare $5m Drones Wiped Out

The main target was a depot storing Orion UAV systems — among the most capable drones in Russia’s arsenal.

According to Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, four Orion drones were destroyed. Each aircraft is worth more than $5 million and can remain airborne for up to 24 hours while carrying missiles or guided bombs.

The loss deals a costly blow to Russian reconnaissance and strike capabilities in the Black Sea region.

Radar and Patrol Aircraft Also Hit

The strike also damaged an Antonov An‑72P used to monitor coastal waters and maritime activity.

Another critical target was the P‑37 Mech radar, a platform designed to detect airborne threats and direct fighter aircraft and air-defence batteries.

Removing such systems weakens Russia’s ability to detect incoming attacks and coordinate air responses across Crimea.

Drone Warfare Drives the Offensive

The operation was carried out by the 1st Separate Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces working alongside a deep-strike coordination unit.

Ukrainian commanders say precision drone operations are now eroding Russian capabilities faster than they can be replaced.

Crimea Under Growing Pressure

The strike follows a series of recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian military infrastructure across the peninsula.

Late March saw the destruction of a Bastion coastal defense missile system and the targeting of a Valdai radar near Hvardiiske.

On April 1, a mass drone assault triggered widespread blackouts across parts of Crimea, leaving entire districts without power.

Taken together, the attacks signal Kyiv’s escalating campaign to dismantle Russia’s strategic foothold on the Black Sea.

Ukraine strikes rare Russian UAVs in Crimea, takes out radar and aircraft

Ukrainian consular attaché working at the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Poland detained at the border. He tried to smuggle out: $140,000, €68,000, 12 kg of gold, 13.8 kg of jewelry. “Rats are abandoning ship” – as you can see, this applies to "diplomats" too.