Ukraine Targets Russian Fuel Facility as Moscow Claims Advances
On day 1,283 of Russia’s war on Ukraine, both sides reported fresh developments across the battlefield, with Kyiv targeting energy infrastructure inside Russia and Moscow claiming territorial gains.
TIMES OF NIGERIA gathered from Al Jazeera that Ukraine’s military said it struck a major fuel pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk region overnight, causing a fire at a facility with an annual capacity of 10.5 million tonnes.
The site was reportedly a crucial link in supplying diesel for Russia’s war effort.
Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov claimed Moscow’s forces had doubled their monthly territorial gains, advancing by 600 to 700 square kilometres compared to earlier in the year, while also inflicting damage on Ukraine’s military-industrial base through 35 strikes on “critical targets.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities revised the death toll from Thursday’s massive Russian drone and missile assault on Kyiv upwards to 25.
On the diplomatic front, the US approved a $179.1 million sustainment package for Ukraine’s Patriot air defence system, while Washington warned the UN Security Council that Russia’s attacks “cast doubt on its seriousness for peace.”
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko accused Moscow of choosing “killing over ending the war.” Russia’s UN envoy, however, signalled conditional openness to a summit, insisting on thorough preparations.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies to elevate talks on long-term security guarantees, pushing for NATO-like commitments ratified by parliaments. European ministers voiced support for training missions inside Ukraine, while Estonia argued full NATO membership remained the strongest security guarantee.
Meanwhile, Germany and France announced deeper defence cooperation, including a missile early-warning system.
Elsewhere, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised families of fighters killed in Ukraine as “martyrs,” while Russia and China reiterated opposition to “discriminatory” sanctions.
The Kremlin confirmed President Vladimir Putin would begin a four-day state visit to China on Sunday.
