Key facts
- Ukraine conducted drone strikes on a chemical plant in Novomoskovsk and an oil depot in Rybinsk, Russia.
- Fires were reported at both targeted locations.
- The Security Service of Ukraine claimed responsibility for the strike on the Temp reserve oil depot.
- President Zelensky confirmed the strikes and highlighted Russia's extensive drone attacks on Ukraine.
- The UN recorded the highest monthly civilian casualties in Ukraine since April 2022.
- The UK detained a Russian oil tanker operating within a sanctioned shadow fleet.
Ukraine launched drone strikes targeting a chemical plant in Novomoskovsk, Tula Oblast, and an oil depot in Rybinsk, Yaroslavl Oblast, on June 14, resulting in significant fires. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed its operatives successfully struck the Temp reserve oil depot, which supplies fuel for military needs. Tula Oblast Governor Dmitriy Milayev acknowledged an attack on an industrial enterprise in Novomoskovsk, stating fragments of downed drones fell onto its territory. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the strikes on both facilities and noted flight restrictions at six Russian airports and air-raid alerts across 28 regions.
Zelensky also reported that Russia had fired nearly 2,000 strike drones at Ukraine over the past week, urging partners to strengthen air defense and long-range capabilities. He highlighted upcoming G7, EU, and NATO summits as opportunities to secure concrete decisions on defense support and increased sanctions pressure on Russia.
In a separate development, pro-Ukrainian partisans claim the Russian Black Sea Fleet is planning to relocate its command and control units from Crimea to Novorossiysk, Russia, citing increasing Ukrainian strikes on the peninsula. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify this claim.
Furthermore, the United Kingdom's armed forces detained a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet oil tanker, the 'Smyrtos,' in the English Channel. The UK Defense Ministry stated that the shadow fleet, comprising over 700 vessels, transports a significant portion of Russia's sanctioned oil and helps fund its war effort. Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized the operation, described as the first of its kind led by the UK.
Separately, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that May recorded the highest monthly civilian casualty toll in Ukraine since April 2022, with at least 274 deaths and 1,763 injuries.