US Gives Ukraine Targeting Data for Russian Refineries

According to The Wall Street Journal, US President Donald Trump has authorized the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to provide Kyiv with targeting data that will help more effectively strike Russian oil refineries, pipelines, and power plants. This decision aims to disrupt the Kremlin's main source of revenue, which finances the war. American officials have also appealed to NATO allies with a call to provide similar support. This step comes amid discussions on whether Washington should supply Ukraine with more powerful, long-range Tomahawk missiles, which are capable of reaching targets up to 2,500 km away.

In response, Russia has carried out one of the most powerful air attacks of the war in recent days. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces launched 416 air targets overnight, including 381 unmanned aerial vehicles and 35 missiles. Air defense forces managed to destroy 320 targets, but 8 missiles and 78 drones hit their targets in 15 different locations, according to Ukrainian sources.

The main target of the attacks was Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The Poltava, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions suffered serious damage.

In the Poltava region, critical infrastructure facilities were hit. The DTEK company reported that due to the Russian attack, they were forced to halt the operation of a number of gas production facilities. Traffic in the city was partially restricted due to power supply problems.

In the Sumy region, the shelling of critical infrastructure resulted in partial power outages in the Konotop and Shostka districts.

In the Kharkiv region, a Russian drone attack caused a fire at a large agricultural enterprise, resulting in the death of about 13,000 pigs. One employee of the enterprise was also injured.

In turn, Ukraine is continuing its strategy of targeting Russia's military-industrial complex and energy facilities. Ukrainian drones struck the Orsk oil refinery in the Orenburg region, which is considered a strategic facility. This plant is located almost 1,400 km from the Ukrainian border, which testifies to the significant increase in the long-range strike capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces. Local sources reported that a fire broke out at the plant, which processes 6.6 million tons of oil annually and produces gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.