Ukrainian forces executed a coordinated strike targeting Russian military assets deep in the rear, deploying both drones and Western-supplied long-range weaponry. The attack marks a significant escalation in Ukraine’s efforts to disrupt Russian military operations.
Reports indicate that Ukraine used UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to strike military targets within Russia for the first time. Geolocated footage shows the aftermath of a likely missile strike near Marino in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
READ: U.S. Green Lights Ukraine To Use American-Supplied Land Mines Against Russia
Several reports claimed that Ukrainian forces launched up to 12 Storm Shadow missiles at Kursk Oblast, with fragments striking Marino. Ukrainian defense outlet Defense Express suggested the target may have been the Baryatinsky Estate in Marino, reportedly housing a command post for Russian and North Korean troops operating in the region.
The site, located approximately 30 km from the Kursk Oblast frontline, would be a strategically plausible location for a headquarters. However, this claim remains unverified.
Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces conducted a large-scale drone offensive targeting military and industrial sites in multiple Russian regions, including Voronezh, Belgorod, and Novgorod oblasts. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) reported intercepting or destroying 44 Ukrainian drones as of November 20, including:
- 20 in Novgorod Oblast
- Five in Kursk Oblast
- Four in Oryol Oblast
- Three each in Belgorod, Tula, and Tver oblasts
- Two each in Bryansk, Moscow, and Smolensk oblasts
READ: U.S. Embassy In Ukraine Locks Down Amid Threat Of Significant Air Attack
Key Targets and Strikes:
- Novgorod Oblast: Ukrainian drones reportedly struck the 13th Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU) arsenal near Kotovo. This site allegedly stored ammunition for various weapon systems, including S-300 and S-400 missiles, Iskander ballistic missiles, and North Korean-provided KN-23 ballistic missiles.
- Belgorod Oblast: Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) confirmed strikes on a command post of the Russian “Sever” (Northern) Grouping of Forces in Gubkin. Footage also emerged showing damage to the EFKO Factory in Alekseyevka, which reportedly produces cargo drones for the Russian military.
- Voronezh Oblast: Ukrainian drones targeted an industrial facility, with additional reports of an oil depot being struck in Sosnovka, Samara Oblast.
READ: U.S. Green Lights Ukraine To Use American-Supplied Land Mines Against Russia
Implications of the Attack
The strikes, involving precision weaponry and drone technology, demonstrate Ukraine’s growing ability to target and disrupt Russian military operations far from the front lines.
The use of Western-provided long-range weapons like the Storm Shadow underscores the deepening support from allied nations, while the scale of the drone operations highlights Ukraine’s expanding tactical capabilities.
The attacks on critical infrastructure and command posts are likely aimed at hampering Russia’s logistical and operational capacity as the war enters its next phase. Both Ukrainian and Russian sources indicate these strikes have had a significant impact, but their full strategic implications remain to be seen.
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