New wave of Ukraine’s strikes on Russia: 200+ military targets in focus

Ukrainian military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko reported this in an analysis for a joint project between OBOZ.UA and Information Resistance.

According to him, until now, Ukraine's primary means of attack on Russian territory have been drones. They were used to target Russian refineries, oil storage facilities, ammunition depots, factories, military-industrial complexes, and specialized radar systems. However, a key limitation of these drones was that they carry relatively small warheads, typically weighing between 40 and 70 kg, which limited their impact on larger targets.

This dynamic is now changing with Ukraine's authorization to use more powerful weapons, including the ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles.

Strikes of new wave

On the night of November 19, the Ukrainian Defense Forces targeted the 1046th Logistics Center of the Russian Armed Forces near the city of Karachev in the Bryansk region, using an ATACMS ballistic missile.

Two days later, on November 21, Ukrainian forces struck a command post near Maryino in the Kursk region, this time using  British Storm Shadow subsonic cruise missiles - at least 10 of them. The exact results of the strike are still being debated, with some reports suggesting that up to 500 North Korean soldiers may have been killed at the facility. Regardless of the final toll, the attack had a significant impact, as the command post of the Kursk group of the Russian Armed Forces was completely destroyed.

On the night of November 25, the Khalino airfield in Kursk region, located about 100 km from the Ukrainian border, was hit. The airfield was heavily used for launching strike and reconnaissance UAVs, as well as for tactical aircraft and attack helicopters. In recent months, Russia has also been rapidly building reinforced concrete shelters for its tactical aviation at the site. The strike also destroyed an S-400 air defense system stationed at the airfield.

According to military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko, these strikes mark the beginning of a new phase in attacks on Russian territory - one that involves not just standard strike drones, but also long-range missiles that can be deployed independently or in combination.

While the strike zone is currently limited to a 300-kilometer radius from the Ukrainian border, it is still more than sufficient to target key facilities. There are over 200 stationary military sites in this area, including arsenals, command centers, headquarters, fuel depots, and more. The zone also contains 16 military airfields, all of which are actively used by Russian forces.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces now have access to a wide range of munitions. For example, ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles can be used to target military infrastructure like arsenals, command posts, and troop units. Meanwhile, drone strikes can focus on non-military targets like refineries and oil storage facilities. This is exactly what occurred on the night of November 25. While ATACMS targeted the Khalino airfield, drones hit a petroleum product tank complex in Kaluga, which is also near the Typhoon instrumentation plant, a key facility thatproduces coastal missile systems and other equipment for the Russian Navy.

Conclusions

“The authorization to launch long-range missile strikes on Russian territory enables Ukraine to use both its own resources and those of its partners more strategically and effectively. By prioritizing and targeting specific sites, the Ukrainian Defense Forces can significantly disrupt Russia's military logistics and command infrastructure, achieving a much greater impact on various levels,” the military expert concluded.

• A North Korean general was wounded in Russia's Kursk region following Ukraine's Storm Shadow strike. Several other DPRK army officers were killed.