Ukraine Strikes Drone Depot in Russia, Destroying Hundreds of Drones
Table of Contents
- 1. Ukraine Strikes Drone Depot in Russia, Destroying Hundreds of Drones
- 2. Foreign Aid Freeze Deepens Concerns as Rubio Halts Funding for Ukraine and Key Allies
- 3. Russia’s Aerial Assault on Ukraine
- 4. Ukrainian Troops escape Encirclement in Velyka Novosilka
- 5. Ryazan Oil Refinery Again Targeted in Ukrainian Drone Attacks
- 6. What are the most pressing needs for refugees and displaced Ukrainians right now?
- 7. The human Cost of Conflict
On january 26th, Ukrainian forces delivered a significant blow to Russia’s drone capabilities by striking a drone storage facility in Russia’s Oryol Oblast. Teh General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported the attack on their Facebook page, stating that the facility housed concrete structures containing thermobaric warheads for drones.
The strike, carried out by both Ukrainian Air Force units and ground troops, resulted in a considerable secondary detonation. While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, the Ukrainian military estimates that over 200 Shahed drones were destroyed in the attack.
“The results and extent of the damage are being specified, but it is preliminary known that more than 200 ‘Shaheds’ will no longer be used against our country,” the statement said.
The Ukrainian military emphasized that the strikes against facilities supporting attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure will continue. This latest attack highlights the increasing pressure on Russia’s ability to maintain its aerial assault against Ukraine.
Since the fall of 2022, Russia has deployed thousands of Iranian-designed Shahed drones against Ukrainian targets. These relatively inexpensive, yet effective drones, and their domestic counterparts like the Geran, have been frequently used in strikes against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
Reports indicate that the Shahed-136 drone has a flight range of anywhere from 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles) to 2,500 kilometers (about 1,550 miles),weighs approximately 200 kilograms,and can reach speeds of up to 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour). Western media,such as the New York Times,has reported that the cost of each Shahed-136 drone is as low as $20,000.
The Oryol region has become a frequent target of Ukrainian attacks in recent weeks. On December 28th, a drone storage, maintenance, and repair facility was destroyed there, and on December 22nd, an oil depot in the region was hit by drones, afterward catching fire.
Foreign Aid Freeze Deepens Concerns as Rubio Halts Funding for Ukraine and Key Allies
A bombshell directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sent shockwaves through the State Department, halting spending on almost all foreign aid grants for the next 90 days. This sweeping action, which took many officials by surprise, includes funding for military assistance to Ukraine, according to Politico.
The move goes beyond President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, which called for a similar pause while Rubio reviewed existing programs.Where Trump’s order left some ambiguity, Rubio’s directive makes it clear that no further action will be taken to disburse funds for already approved programs, according to current and former officials familiar with the situation. “State just totally went nuclear on foreign assistance,” one official told Politico.
While the guidance allows for exceptions such as foreign military financing for Egypt and Israel, emergency food assistance, and “legitimate expenses incurred prior to the date of this guidance,” its broad scope leaves room for interpretation. It also states that decisions regarding the continuation, modification, or termination of programs will need to align with Rubio’s review.
This freeze has sparked major concern among officials, as it will undoubtedly impact key allies, including Ukraine, Jordan, and Taiwan. the guidance could also expose the U.S. government to lawsuits for unfulfilled contracts if the terms are found to be violated. One State Department official and two former Biden administration officials, all speaking anonymously, voiced concerns about the potential impact on these partners.
The omission of Ukraine aid is especially troubling for American officials, many of whom view continued support as essential in the fight against Russia. While republicans,including President Trump,have long criticized foreign aid under Democratic administrations,Trump has recently taken a more hard-line stance toward Russia. He has threatened Moscow with sanctions if it doesn’t end its nearly three-year war in Ukraine and stated that “Putin bears duty for ending the war.”
Despite the concern, the State Department is tasked with preparing a report within 85 days of the guidance’s issuance.This report will likely shed more light on how this dramatic shift in foreign aid strategy will play out in the coming months.
US diplomats push for exemption on Ukraine aid amid 90-day freeze, Zelensky says military aid has not stopped
Senior diplomats in the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs requested a full waiver to exclude U.S. Agency for International Growth (USAID) operations in Ukraine from a 90-day foreign aid freeze, the Financial Times reports.
Russia’s Aerial Assault on Ukraine
Adding to the tension, Russian forces launched a relentless aerial attack on Ukraine, firing 1,250 bombs, over 750 attack drones, and 20 missiles in a single week. President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed these horrifying figures on January 26, painting a grim picture of Russia’s continued aggression.
Zelensky added that the attacks focused on the Kyiv region.
worries about Russia’s ongoing offensive in Ukraine intensified this week as Ukrainian cities faced renewed bombardment from drones and missiles. In a particularly harrowing attack on Zaporizhzhia, the impact of Russian forces left at least one person dead and 45 others injured. The city bore the brunt of the assault, with apartment blocks emerging as targets
Adding to the escalating tensions, Ukrainian officials reported that Russian troops had unleashed a barrage of 72 drones, with Ukraine’s Air Force successfully intercepting 50 of them.President Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasizing the importance of a unified front, told the world, “long-range capabilities are crucial. Sanctions are essential. Lowering the price of oil is important. The key is to act in unity and protect lives with resolve.”
Meanwhile, new perspectives on how to end the conflict emerged from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 23rd, Trump proposed a radical solution. He claimed that lowering global oil prices could instantly halt Russia’s aggression, suggesting he woudl urge OPEC to take action. He also advocated for increased American oil and gas drilling, positioning it as a way to weaken Russia’s fuel-dependent economy.
The day before his Davos speech, Trump delivered a stark warning. He stated that if a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine wasn’t reached promptly, he would be forced to impose heavy penalties on Russian exports to the United States and other nations. Trump declared, “I would have no choice but to “put high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States and other participating countries.”
Ukrainian Troops escape Encirclement in Velyka Novosilka
In a hard-fought battle for control of Velyka Novosilka, a village in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian troops have managed to avoid encirclement despite facing intense pressure from russian forces.
The 110th Separate Mechanised Brigade, in a statement on its Telegram channel, detailed the grueling fight. “Equipment on both sides wears thin but Russian infantry vastly outnumbers the Ukrainian side,” they wrote.
While Russian troops are poised to capture the village, the brigade believes their advance will falter. “Any movement is suppressed by shells and drones,” they stated, adding that the mokri Yaly River creates a significant obstacle for Russia’s continued push.
The brigade also noted that the river hindered Ukrainian supply routes, a strategic vulnerability highlighted by spokesperson Viktor Trehubov on January 23. Trehubov warned that Ukrainian troops were at risk of encirclement as russian forces fiercely attempted to control access routes to Velyka Novosilka.
Adding to the intensity, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on January 24 that its troops had planted a Russian flag in the center of Velyka Novosilka, dividing the town and cutting off Ukrainian forces. This statement, according to experts, suggests the imminent capture of the southern pocket of the village, a potential significant victory for Russia in an otherwise stagnant conflict.
Although the exact number of Ukrainian troops potentially trapped in the southern pocket remains unclear, estimates suggest it could be around two or three battalions, totaling several hundred soldiers, according to Pasi Paroinen of the Finland-based open-source intelligence organization Black Bird group.
The current battle for Velyka Novosilka unfolds within the broader context of intense fighting in Donetsk Oblast. Throughout the fall of 2024, Russian forces have achieved incremental gains in the region, retaking territories near Toretsk and Chasiv Yar, while also edging forward near Kupiansk and even venturing onto Russian soil in Kursk Oblast.
Ryazan Oil Refinery Again Targeted in Ukrainian Drone Attacks
The Ryazan Oil Refinery, a critical energy hub for Russia, was engulfed in flames once again early on January 26th, following a reported drone strike. This latest attack comes just two nights after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SOS) jointly targeted the same facility on January 24th.
Residents near the refinery reported hearing loud explosions and witnessing drone activity just before 1 a.m. on January 26th, as revealed by the Russian Telegram news channel, Astra. Ryazan Oblast governor Pavlo Malkov confirmed an ongoing drone attack in the region, stating that Russian air defenses were actively repelling the incoming drones.
Adding further weight to the claims, andrii Kovalenko, the counter-disinformation chief at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, posted a video on his Telegram channel seemingly depicting a fire at the refinery following a drone strike. Astra corroborated the origin of the footage, confirming that it was filmed at the refinery site, but noted the difficulty in determining whether the fire was a result of the new attack or the earlier one.
While the Kyiv Independant has been unable to independently verify these claims,the incident underscores the escalating tensions and Ukraine’s increasingly direct targeting of russia’s critical infrastructure.
The ryazan Oil Refinery, one of Russia’s largest, boasts a capacity of processing 17 million metric tons of oil annually. Ukraine considers oil facilities, vital for funding Russia’s war effort, to be legitimate military targets. The refinery’s strategic location, approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) north of the Ukrainian border, makes it a significant asset for Russia’s military operations.
This latest attack adds to a string of recent incidents where Ukrainian forces have targeted Russian oil facilities. Notably, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) previously launched a drone attack on the Ryazan Oil Refinery on May 1, 2024. Kovalenko, on January 24th, emphasized the refinery’s importance to Russia’s military-industrial complex.
“The refinery plays an critically important role in providing fuel for both the civilian and military-industrial complex of russia,” he stated on Telegram.
“It produces fuel for military equipment,aviation kerosene,diesel fuel and other types of petroleum products used in tanks,aircraft,ships and other equipment of the Russian Armed Forces.”
Facing escalating risks to civilian lives, authorities in the Komar and Kryvorizhzhia regions have made the difficult decision to initiate mandatory evacuations of children from over 20 settlements. Governor Vadim filashkin, in a statement addressing the dire situation, explained, “Due to the increased threat to civilian lives, authorities will begin mandatory forced evacuations of children in several settlements in the Komar and kryvorizhzhia communities.”
What are the most pressing needs for refugees and displaced Ukrainians right now?
The human Cost of Conflict
Rob Evans, humanitarian aid worker with the united Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spoke to us about the escalating situation in Ukraine.
Know Your Name: What major challenges are currently facing
refugees and displaced Ukrainians inside the country and beyond?
Rob Evans: The situation is incredibly complex. Within Ukraine, millions
have been internally displaced and face severe shortages of food,
shelter, and basic medical care,
notably in areas hit hardest by conflict. Many are left grappling with trauma
and fear for their safety. Across borders, countries hosting Ukrainian
refugees are struggling to cope with the influx. Funding for aid
is critical and, unfortunately, often falls short despite generous
contributions from many nations.
Know Your Name: How is the UNHCR and its partners working to mitigate these challenges?
Rob Evans: We’re working tirelessly to provide emergency assistance,
including shelter, food, water, and medical aid. We’re also supporting
child protection measures and providing essential services in countries
hosting refugees. This work is incredibly challenging due to the
scale of the crisis, but our dedicated teams are making a real difference.
Our goal is to ensure no one is forgotten and that all who need help
receive it.
know Your name: What are the most pressing needs right now?
Rob Evans: Increased funding is desperately needed to
continue providing vital assistance to those affected by this conflict.
We also need continued support from governments and international
organizations in finding lasting solutions for durable
solutions for millions of displaced Ukrainians.
Know your Name: Do you have any
message for those who are feeling helpless in the face of this immense
crisis?
Rob Evans: even small acts can make a difference. Donating to
reputable organizations, raising awareness about the plight of
those affected, and advocating for peace are all meaningful ways to
contribute. Every bit of support helps bring us closer to a solution
and provides hope for a brighter future.
