Russia and Ukraine exchange strikes as 'key fuel pipeline' near Moscow hit

"The operation was carried out late on Friday, according to a statement on the Telegram messaging channel. The agency, which is known by its acronym HUR, described it as a "serious blow" to Russia's military logistics. HUR said its forces struck the Koltsevoy pipeline, which spans 250 miles and supplies the Russian army with gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from refineries in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow."

"The operation, which targeted infrastructure near Ramensky district, destroyed all three fuel lines, HUR said. The pipeline was capable of transporting up to three million tonnes of jet fuel, 2.8 million tonnes of diesel and 1.6 million tonnes of gasoline annually, HUR said. "Our strikes have had more impact than sanctions," said Kyrylo Budanov, the head of HUR, referring to international sanctions on Russia imposed over its all-out war and the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine."

"Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry has claimed its forces defeated a team of Ukrainian special forces that were rushed to the eastern front line hotspot of Pokrovsk in a bid to stop Russian troops from pushing further into the city. Russia and Ukraine have presented conflicting accounts of what is happening in Pokrovsk, a key Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Donetsk region. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed last week that his forces had encircled the city's Ukrainian defenders."

Late on Friday Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported a strike that destroyed all three lines of the Koltsevoy pipeline near Ramensky district. The 250-mile pipeline supplied the Russian army with gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from refineries in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow and could transport up to three million tonnes of jet fuel, 2.8 million tonnes of diesel and 1.6 million tonnes of gasoline annually. HUR called the attack a serious blow to Russian logistics. HUR head Kyrylo Budanov said the strikes had more impact than sanctions. Russia claimed its forces defeated a Ukrainian special forces team in Pokrovsk. Kyiv and Moscow offered conflicting accounts of fighting around Pokrovsk, with President Zelensky acknowledging infiltration but insisting defenders are removing Russian units and noting large Russian troop deployments in Donetsk.

Read at Irish Independent