A destroyed Russian T-72 tank, retrieved from the Ukrainian village of Dmytrivka, was displayed near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on February 24, 2023, marking the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that Ukraine has targeted over 30 Russian oil processing and storage facilities. The objective of these strikes is to hamper oil supplies to the Russian military and reduce Moscow's war-related revenues. Zelenskiy, addressing officers from the Special Operations Centre "A" of the State Security Service (SBU), revealed these attacks but did not specify dates or locations. A video of his speech was posted on his account on X.
The long-range drones used in these operations can travel up to 1,500 km and have been developed by both military intelligence and the SBU. One notable attack, carried out on May 9, hit a major oil processing plant in the Bashkiria region. The latest strike on June 21 saw drones targeting four refineries, including the significant Ilsky refinery in southern Russia.
In another strategic move, the SBU has deployed "Sea Baby" drones to plant over 15 underwater mines near Russian-occupied Crimea. This operation, reported by The Wall Street Journal, damaged four Russian warships, including the corvette Samum, the patrol boat Pavel Derzhavin, a large tugboat, and the minesweeper Vladimir Kozitsky. These mines, weighing 180 kg, are particularly effective in shallow waters and have led to significant disruptions.
Overall, these tactics underscore Ukraine’s innovative approach to asymmetric warfare against Russia's well-fortified positions.