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Ukraine launched its biggest-ever missile and drone blitz deep into Russia as both sides ramped up carnage ahead of Donald Trump’s peace moves.
Six British Storm Shadow cruise missiles and six American ATACMs long-range rockets spearheaded strikes up to 680 miles inside Russia.
The Ukrainian strike hit critical military and strategic targets deep inside Russia
A Ukrainian drone strike on an oil facility in Saratov city
East2WestThe “massive attack” was said to have hit multiple targets in Engels, Saratov, Kazan, Bryansk, and Tula.
Russia hit back early Wednesday with volleys of cruise missiles which hammered Ukraine’s national grid in six regions in freezing winter temperatures.
Air raid alerts for the whole of Ukraine were issued as the air force warned of incoming cruise missiles aimed at Kryvyi Rih, Chernihiv, Poltava and the southern Mykolaiv region.
Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine’s official Centre Against Disinformation, said Ukraine’s missiles had targeted weapon production plants, oil refineries and warehouses.
Oil storage plants, refineries, and chemical and ammunition works were left in flames while drones hit guided bombs and missile stores.
Dmitry Milyaev, the governor of Russia‘s Tula region, described a “massive drone attack” in a Telegram post, claiming at least 17 drones were launched in the region.
A huge blaze was reported to have been detonated at the Aleksinsky chemical plant in the Tula region.
One Ukrainian source from the SBU said that the Aleksino chemical plant — used to produce gunpowder and ammunition for the Russian military — was successfully hit, igniting a large fire, according to Kyiv Independent.
The Saratovsky oil refinery and the Bryansk chemical plant were also hit, while the Saratov attack was said to have “reduced the capabilities of Russia’s strategic aviation.”
Roman Busargin, governor of the Saratov 450 miles southeast of Moscow, confirmed plants in Saratov and Engels on opposite banks of the Volga River were struck.
The attack came after another on an oil depot serving the Engels airbase took Russian firefighters five days to put out.
War clashes looked certain to ramp up in the days before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Monday having promised Ukraine peace “within 24 hours”.
The Kremlin said it is open to a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Trump, which the incoming commander-in-chief said on Monday would take place “very quickly”.
The attack comes just days after a massive Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian oil depot sent bright orange sparks flying through the night sky.
A key Russian facility was targeted by Ukraine’s fearless military with the latest attacks creating a doomsday-style blast.
Russia’s Steel Horse depot in Oryol has been a constant marked zone in the ongoing conflict for the Ukrainians.
The giant facility has already been hit three separate times in the past with the latest attack having apocalyptic visual results.
Footage showed the moment a bright orange flash of light erupted over the depot.
Vlad’s air defences quickly scrambled to try to defend the strategic facility but it was set ablaze in the blast.
In December, Ukraine also struck a 400ft Russian skyscraper – sparking a huge blast.
Footage showed the deadly drone flying into the 37-floor Azure skies residential tower before erupting into flames.
East2West
ReutersPEACE IN WEEKS?
A potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine could take place in just weeks after Trump gets back to power, David Lammy revealed last week.
Trump, who is set to take over the White House on January 20, previously said he would stop the bloody war within a day of swearing in as the 47th US president.
Lammy said that it’s “unlikely” that a deal will be achieved on January 21.
However, the UK foreign secretary dropped a bombshell detail about Trump’s peace plan which he thinks could come into action in just a few weeks.
He said the plans for Trump’s peace deal have been pushed for around Easter.
Plans for a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine have been floating around for weeks now, with both sides claiming they are ready for peace talks but “on their own conditions”.
Lammy said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has “set out his own plans” and has been “clear about security guarantees” pointing to Nato membership.
Zelensky revealed his five-step “victory plan” back in October for ending Russia’s war.
The hopeful proposal was based on putting Ukraine in a position of strength and linking its security with the West to deter Russia from invading it again.
Inside Trump's plan for peace
DONALD Trump's top team has hatched a carrot and stick plan to force the warring leaders to the discussion table and bring peace to the region when he enters office in January.
The clever scheme uses America’s military support for Ukraine as a double-edged sword to encourage Zelensky and threaten panicky Putin.
If the Russian war-mongering kept snatching land and refused to join peace talks, Trump would make him suffer by pouring more cash into Ukraine’s military.
Zelensky would be rewarded for following Trump’s lead with support for Ukraine to protect itself under the new terms of any deal.
Under Trump’s plan, Zelensky would have to give up the land Russia has already taken in the eastern regions of Ukraine and drop his dream of immediately joining Nato.
The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly ruled out land sacrifices for most of the war but recently indicated he might consider the option to halt the bloodshed.
If Zelensky did not cooperate, Trump would slash the US support that the Ukrainian military relies on.
There are signs both Zelensky and Putin may fall in line with Trump’s plan which could prove to be a silver bullet.
Insiders close to Trump told The Sun that Putin is “scared to death” of the president-elect and will be ready to talk when he takes power.
But bullish Vlad is already teeing up hard-line terms for any deal brokered by Trump, sources say.
Zelensky indicated he may be open to negotiations, but still has Ukraine joining Nato as part of his “victory plan”.
There is consensus among Trump’s advisors that any peace deal would rule out Ukraine joining Nato in the near future, so this could be a sticking point.
But this is where the US could use the threat of withdrawing military support to leverage Zelensky.
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