By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Overnight on January 21st, Ukrainian forces launched a series of attacks targeting key Russian infrastructure. These strikes included the Liskinskaya oil depot (hit for a second time in a week), the Smolensk Aviation Plant, and a Russian command post in Donetsk Oblast. The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting numerous drones, while Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed successful strikes, causing fires and explosions at targeted locations. These actions underscore Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to disrupt Russia’s war effort through long-range drone attacks.
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Ukrainian forces launched a series of overnight attacks targeting key Russian infrastructure, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. The strikes, carried out on January 21st, focused on disrupting Russian military capabilities and logistics.
The Liskinskaya oil depot in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast was a primary target, suffering significant damage. This wasn’t the first time this depot has been hit; a previous drone attack occurred just a week earlier. This time, the attack reportedly ignited a fire at the Rosneft-operated facility after targeting fuel and lubricant tanks. The Voronezh Oblast Governor himself confirmed the attack on the depot located in Liski, a village situated roughly 140 kilometers north of the Ukrainian border. The impact of these attacks on Russia’s fuel supply chain is significant and undeniably disrupts their war effort.
Another significant target was the Smolensk Aviation Plant. This facility, which plays a crucial role in the production and modernization of Su-25 military aircraft, was struck in a joint operation involving Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces and Special Operations Forces. Explosions were reported at the plant, located relatively close to the border with Belarus, highlighting the reach of Ukraine’s long-range capabilities. The proximity of the plant to the Russia-Belarus border underscores the boldness of the operation and the potential disruption to Russian military aircraft production and maintenance.
Further showcasing the range and effectiveness of the Ukrainian strikes, a Russian command post in occupied Volnovakha, within Donetsk Oblast, was also targeted and successfully hit. This attack specifically targeted the command post of Russia’s 29th Combined Arms Army. While the exact consequences of the strike are still being assessed, the successful hit on a command post represents a significant blow to Russian command and control capabilities in the region, potentially disrupting operational planning and coordination.
The Ukrainian military’s announcement of these successful strikes comes after the Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting a large number of Ukrainian drones. Russia reported intercepting 55 Ukrainian drones in a large-scale overnight strike, including 10 over Smolensk Oblast and six over Voronezh Oblast. This highlights the scale of the Ukrainian operation and the apparent intensity of the Russian response to these attacks. The discrepancy between the Russian report of intercepted drones and the Ukrainian claim of successful strikes may reflect differences in operational details, assessment methodologies, or the true effectiveness of the Russian air defenses. It remains unclear whether the intercepted drones were part of the operations targeting the oil depot, aviation plant, and command post, or were part of separate missions.
These attacks, achieved by Ukrainian long-range drones, represent a calculated strategy to weaken Russia’s war-making capacity. By regularly targeting military and industrial facilities deep inside Russian territory, Ukraine aims to undermine Russia’s ability to sustain its large-scale invasion. The selection of targets strongly suggests a focus on disrupting the supply lines and maintenance of Russian military equipment, as well as impeding Russian command and control capabilities. The continued success of these attacks reflects the development and deployment of advanced drone technology by Ukrainian forces, as well as the increasing effectiveness of their targeting and operational planning.
The ongoing nature of these attacks suggests a sustained effort by Ukraine to exploit vulnerabilities in Russian defenses and logistical systems. The success of these operations has implications beyond the immediate military impact, potentially influencing the ongoing war effort and the overall trajectory of the conflict. The attacks undoubtedly add to the pressure on Russia’s military and industrial base, forcing them to divert resources to address these security challenges and further straining their already stretched supply lines. The strategic value of such attacks is clear, even with the inherent risks involved in long-range strikes across international borders.