Ukraine launches major drone counter-attack on Russian sites

Ukraine launched a massive two-day counter-attack targeting locations in Russian-annexed Crimea and multiple sites on Russian soil, causing significant destruction. Ukraine’s forces focused the offensive on three key areas. Satellite imagery shows damage from a long-range strike on the Moscow-controlled Belbek airbase in Crimea on Wednesday, May 15.

Three Russian warplanes and a fuel facility were destroyed. Analysis of the imagery identified the destroyed aircraft as two MiG-31s and a Su-27 fighter jet. The pro-Ukrainian group Atesh, which operates in Crimea, claimed the attack also damaged the main ammunition depot at the airfield, disrupting a key weapons cache used to supply Russian aircraft.

Although Ukraine has not publicly claimed responsibility for the strike, the Russian Defence Ministry reported intercepting at least 10 long-range missiles during the attack.

Separately, drone attacks targeted strategic sites off the coast of the Black Sea in the Russian cities of Tuapse and Novorossiysk. The resulting damage led to significant disruptions and power outages in Russia.

A fire at the Tuapse oil refinery was extinguished after causing substantial damage, the full extent of which remains unclear. This refinery, which was also hit in January, produces 240,000 barrels per day and supplies petroleum products to Turkey, China, Malaysia and Singapore.

Officials in Russia said Ukrainian drones also targeted the Novorossiysk fuel terminal. Eyewitnesses reported multiple explosions on Russian social media, leading to power outages and public transport disruptions.

This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his forces halted Russian progress in northern Kharkiv. He attributed the initial breach of Ukraine’s defenses to insufficient air support.

However, as of Friday, May 17, Zelenskyy confirmed Ukrainian brigades are well-supplied with artillery shells, successfully stopping the Russian advance within six miles of the territory.