By Ukraine has significantly ramped up its long-range attacks against Russian targets in the past 24 hours, successfully sinking a Russian submarine and striking a key airfield, according to official statements. This surge in offensive operations comes as Ukraine continues to press its Western allies for permission to use long-range missiles to hit targets within Russia, a request that has so far been met with resistance due to fears of escalation from Moscow.
The General Staff of Ukraine reported striking a Russian Kilo-class submarine and an S-400 anti-aircraft missile complex in the Moscow-occupied Crimean peninsula. The submarine, identified as the “Rostov-on-Don” of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, was reportedly attacked and sank in the port of Sevastopol. Additionally, Ukrainian forces damaged four launchers of the Triumph air defense system, which had been established to protect the strategically important Kerch Strait Bridge.
In a separate operation, Ukrainian forces launched a massive drone barrage against the Morozovsk airfield in Russia’s Rostov region. The attack reportedly resulted in hits on ammunition warehouses storing guided aerial bombs. This coordinated strike was carried out jointly by the Security Service of Ukraine, the Main Directorate of Intelligence, and the Defense Ministry, demonstrating Ukraine’s growing capacity for complex, long-range operations.
The intensification of these attacks over the past month has seen Ukraine targeting Russian military infrastructure, including airfields and oil depots, with increased frequency. Analysts suggest that such an escalation is necessary for Ukraine to effectively degrade Russian military capabilities.
However, the conflict continues to take a toll on civilian populations as well. In the Russian town of Shebekino, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that a Ukrainian drone strike on an apartment building early Sunday resulted in one woman’s death and damage to several other buildings. The governor also noted that eight civilians had been wounded in the region by Ukrainian shelling and dozens of drone strikes since the previous day.
As Ukraine pushes for more advanced weaponry from its Western allies, particularly long-range missiles capable of striking targets within Russia, the United States and other partners have been cautious, fearing potential escalation from Moscow. The recent successes in long-range strikes may bolster Ukraine’s case for receiving such weapons, but the decision remains contentious among Western powers.
In a separate development, Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, has called for an international investigation into an alleged photo circulating on social media that purportedly shows the body of a Ukrainian prisoner of war tortured and executed by Russian forces. Lubinets has appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations to investigate the matter, describing it as a clear violation of the Geneva Convention.
The ICRC, responding to the request, stated that they take such reports extremely seriously and typically respond via relevant authorities directly and confidentially. They emphasized that the law of armed conflict is clear: prisoners of war must be treated humanely at all times.
apnews.com
