CaliToday (15/9/2025): The war between Russia and Ukraine has entered a phase of fierce escalation, with both sides launching significant long-range attacks on each other's territory. Ukrainian officials have announced a series of intensive strikes deep inside Russia, prompting a swift and destructive retaliation from Moscow, which targeted multiple Ukrainian sites, including critical oil refineries.
In a bold strategic shift, Kyiv has claimed responsibility for what it describes as a "sustained barrage" of attacks on Russian soil. These operations, reportedly carried out using a combination of long-range drones and missiles, have moved beyond the immediate front lines to target military and strategic assets far from the border. The stated goal of the Ukrainian campaign is to disrupt Russian military logistics, degrade its war-making capabilities, and increase the domestic cost of the conflict for Moscow.
The attacks have sent a clear signal of Ukraine's growing capacity to project force and challenge Russia's sense of security within its own borders. While specific targets in Russia were not fully detailed, the campaign represents one of the most significant cross-border offensives launched by Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began.
Moscow’s response was both rapid and severe. The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that it had launched a massive wave of retaliatory strikes overnight. According to Russian statements, a combination of high-precision missiles and one-way attack drones (often referred to as Shahed-style drones) were deployed against a range of targets in Ukraine.
Crucially, the Russian attacks focused heavily on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Ukrainian authorities have confirmed that several oil refineries and fuel storage facilities were hit, causing significant fires and damage. The deliberate targeting of these facilities is a calculated move by Russia to cripple Ukraine's economy and, more critically, to choke off the fuel supply essential for its military vehicles, from tanks to transport trucks. This strategy aims to create logistical chaos for Ukrainian forces and hinder their ability to conduct operations.
This latest tit-for-tat exchange marks a dangerous intensification of the aerial war. Both nations are demonstrating an increasing willingness and ability to strike high-value targets far behind the front lines. The focus on energy infrastructure, in particular, highlights a punishing strategy aimed at inflicting maximum economic and military pain.
As the cycle of escalation continues, fears are growing of a wider and more destructive phase of the conflict. With neither side showing any indication of de-escalating, the international community watches with concern as the devastating attacks on critical national infrastructure become a central feature of the ongoing war.
