Ukraine begins to flex muscle as an emerging air power, angering Russia

Ukraine used its latest technology to deepen strikes against Russian oil storage, ports and refineries in the past week, bombing targets in the Urals 1,600 kilometres (990 miles) from its borders and prompting protests about “terrorist attacks” from the Kremlin spokesman. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday announced “a new stage in the use of Ukrainian weapons to limit the potential of Russia’s war”. Recommended Stories list of 4 items end of list The Ukraine Security Service (SBU) later clarified it had struck Transneft’s oil pumping and distribution facility in the city of Perm that day, from where oil was pumped to the Perm refinery and via pipeline in four directions across Russia. (Al Jazeera) The facility is “a strategically important hub of the main oil transportation system”, said the SBU, and preliminary information suggested that “almost all oil storage tanks are on fire”. Russia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the strike and said it had downed 98 Ukrainian UAVs across various regions. “The Urals are now within reach, be vigilant,” wrote Russia’s presidential envoy to the region, Artem Zhoga. Ukraine’s campaign has begun to elicit reactions from the Russian government. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the attacks on oil facilities “terrorist attacks”. …