Ukraine Strikes Russian Targets in Crimea and Krasnodar Krai
On February 26, Ukraine‘s military launched a strike on key Russian sites in occupied Crimea and the Krasnodar Krai region. According to Ukraine’s General Staff, the operation targeted the Saky and Kacha military airfields and the Tuapse oil refinery.
The airfields are used by Russia to control airspace over the Black Sea and launch strikes on Ukrainian territory. The Tuapse oil refinery is a major fuel supplier for the Russian military, with an annual processing capacity of 12 million tons.
Reports indicate that there were at least 40 explosions near the refinery, causing damage to infrastructure. However, these claims have not been independently verified by The Kyiv Independent.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has claimed that its air forces shot down 128 Ukrainian drones overnight on February 26. They reported downing drones over several regions, including Krasnodar Krai, Crimea, and other areas.
Ukraine’s General Staff has stated that strikes on Russian military and strategic facilities will continue. The country is intensifying attacks on Russian fossil fuel infrastructure to disrupt revenue sources funding Moscow’s war effort.
This is part of Ukraine’s regular deep strike operations against military and industrial targets in Russia, primarily using domestically developed drones.