Ukraine has reportedly gained support from the United States to increase its offensive actions against Russia in an effort to push Vladimir Putin into negotiations, according to a recent report.
President Donald Trump allegedly advised Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to be more aggressive in their strikes on Russian infrastructure during a private meeting, as disclosed by a senior Ukrainian official to the Kyiv Independent. The official, briefed on the Trump-Zelensky encounter, mentioned Trump’s skepticism that Putin would take action without external pressure.
Following statements made by Trump at the G7 summit in France, urging Moscow to reach a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, Ukraine has been using medium-range drones to disrupt Russian supply routes and conducting long-range attacks on oil facilities crucial for Kremlin’s war operations.
Recent actions by Ukraine include targeting a railway bridge, a power plant, and other strategic locations in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Diplomatic efforts to end the prolonged conflict have stalled, prompting Ukraine to intensify its efforts to disrupt supply chains and the power grid in Crimea, particularly during the busy tourist season.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov revealed that their forces are employing drones to isolate Crimea, potentially turning it into an isolated region. Recent drone strikes by Ukraine have hit key Russian targets, such as an oil storage depot at the Kerch thermal power plant and critical infrastructure in Simferopol.
Moreover, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, in collaboration with local resistance groups, destroyed a vital rail bridge near the North Crimean Canal, disrupting Russian logistics in southern Ukraine. These actions have caused power outages in parts of Crimea, although local authorities attribute it to technical issues in the electrical grids.
Notably, Ukraine has also conducted drone strikes deep inside Russia, targeting oil refineries that finance Moscow’s military efforts. President Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Tyumen region, significantly impacting Russia’s fuel production capacity.
In a series of drone attacks, Ukraine targeted the Moscow refinery, located near the Kremlin, multiple times, including one of the most significant assaults on the Russian capital since the conflict began. Meanwhile, recent Russian offensives in Ukraine have resulted in casualties, with five individuals reported dead and 49 injured in the past day, according to local authorities.