Over the weekend, Ukrainian drones struck two oil depots deep inside Russian territory—one in Armavir, Krasnodar region, and another in Taganrog, Rostov region—sparking fires and damaging a tanker, according to Ukrainian and Russian officials. President Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated the attacks as part of a campaign to "bring the war back to where it came from ," while Kyiv also claimed the destruction of two Tu-142 naval aircraft and an Iskander missile system at Taganrog airfield.

Armavir and Taganrog: Two Oil Depot Fires , a Damaged Tanker, and an Extended State of Emergency

Ukrainian drone debris ignited a fire at an oil depot in Armavir, a city 500 kilometers from Ukraine's border, and at the port of Taganrog, where a tanker was damaged , according to regional governor Yury Slyusar. Two people were injured in Taganrog, and Mayor Svetlana Kambulova extended a local state of emergency originally declared on May 27. In Armavir, authorities said no injuries occurred and the fire was brought under control. The strikes on oil infrastructure—a key source of revenue for Russia's war effort—are part of an almost daily pattern, as Ukrainian officials reported.

Two Tu-142 Aircraft and an Iskander System: Ukraine's Expanding Target List

Beyond oil targets, Ukrainian drones destroyed two Russian Tu-142 reconnaissance anti-submarine aircraft and an Iskander ballistic missile system at a military airfield in Taganrog, Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert Brovdi said. The Iskander system is capable of launching warheads up to 500 kilometers. Zelensky noted on X that the Armavir strike was “500 kilometers from our state border,” underscoring Ukraine's growing reach. the attacks reflect Kyiv's recent expansion of domestically developed mid- and long-range drone and missile technology, according to the report.

127 Drones Downed or Successful Penetration? Russia's Air Defense Claims vs. Ukraine's Capabilities

Russia's Defence Ministry claimed it had shot down 127 drones overnight, with nearly 50 intercepted in the Rostov region alone, Slyusar said. Yet fires at two oil depots and damage to military aircraft suggest significant penetrations. Ukraine has steadily increased its domestic production of drones and missiles, making deep strikes almost routine.. The discrepancy between Russia's interception numbers and the visible damage highlights the difficulty of defending vast territory against swarms of low-cost drones, analysts have noted.

What the Romanian Drone Incident and Zelensky's 'New Massive Attack' Warning Mean for NATO

The strikes come days after a Russian drone struck an apartment block in eastern Romania,a NATO member, injuring two people. Zelensky warned that Russia is preparing a “new massive attack” on Kyiv, citing intelligence, and pressed the United States for additional Patriot air defense systems. The Romanian incident raised concerns about the war spilling across NATO's borders. Moscow attempted to cast doubt on whether the drone was Russian, but the attack drew strong condemnation across Europe. As Ukraine braces for intensified bombardments, the question remains whether Western allies will accelerate supplies of air defenses and long-range weaponry—or urge restraint.