Russia has been warned by Vlodymyr Zelensky of a new devastating 40 day operation by Ukraine targeting “personnel and equipment” to compel Vladimir Putin to end the war
Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Russia that a devastating new 40 day “influence operation” targeting “personnel and equipment” will be rolled out in the coming days to put pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war.
Kyiv has upped its attacks within Russia in recent months, turning the tide of the conflict by using mid and long range drones to strike at Moscow and cause significant damage to its critical infrastructure.
Two more Russian oil refineries in Ufa, 930 miles from the front line, and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, 180 miles from Ukraine were reportedly hit on Wednesday night.
And now Zelensky says that he has approved a plan for Ukraine’s SBU security service SBU to target Russia in a 40 day blitz that aims to bring the country to its knees and force Putin to end the conflict.
Taking to social media to announce the plan on Thursday night, Zelensky said: “I approved a 40-day influence operation for the service against the aggressor state aimed at compelling it to end the war.
“Importantly, for several months in a row, the SSU has demonstrated the highest performance in defending Ukraine’s positions on the front lines through the use of various types of drones. The Centre of Special Operations ‘Alpha’ leads in terms of the occupier’s personnel and equipment neutralized.
“We also separately discussed challenges to Ukraine’s internal security. I am grateful for the protection of our state and Ukrainians!”
Ukraine has for months been carrying out a campaign targeting Russian military installations and energy facilities. Its success has caused fuel shortages and disrupted army supply lines, stalling Moscow’s full-scale invasion after more than four years of fighting.
There were drone attacks overnight in 12 Russian regions, with Crimea, the Azov and the Black Sea regions experiencing one of the biggest Ukrainian assaults so far.
Zelensky says that Russia is moving more air defences to the capital as well as to Valdai, a town some 300 miles northwest of Moscow and the site of a residence for Putin. He said they are also protecting the Kerch Bridge, a vital supply route connecting the Crimean Peninsula with the Russian mainland.
“In the Moscow region alone, they have amassed hundreds of launchers” for air defence missiles, Zelensky said. “Nearly 90 launchers have been redeployed to Valdai from other regions of Russia.”
Ukrainian drones this month have hit Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city and Putin’s hometown. Ukraine is also trying to cut off Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia invaded and illegally annexed in 2014.
The air defence changes, Zelensky suggested, would leave other parts of Russia vulnerable to Ukraine’s increasingly sophisticated long-range drones, which can now fly more than 930 miles.
