Ukraine strikes a Russian oil hub as Zelenskyy says the war is in 'a
very important phase'
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[October 07, 2024]
By ILLIA NOVIKOV
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s military claimed it struck a major oil
terminal Monday in Crimea that provides fuel for Russia’s war effort as
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the war has entered a key
phase.
Both sides are facing the issue of how to sustain their costly war of
attrition — a conflict that started with Russia's full-scale invasion of
Ukraine in February 2022 and that shows no signs of a resolution.
Ukraine’s General Staff said on social media that the oil terminal in
Feodosia, on the south coast of the Russia-occupied Crimea Peninsula,
has been supplying the Russian army with fuel and that the strike was
part of an ongoing effort to “undermine the military and economic
potential of the Russian Federation.”
Russian-installed authorities in the city of Feodosia on the coast of
the Black Sea reported a fire at the terminal on Monday morning but did
not say what might have caused it.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted rear areas that are essential for
Russia’s onslaught, now deep into its third year. It has developed
long-range drones that have hit oil depots and refineries as well as
armories.
Ukraine's aim is to impair Russia’s ability to support its front-line
units, especially in the eastern Donetsk region where the main Russian
battlefield effort is stretching weary Ukrainian forces.
Kyiv is still awaiting word from its Western partners on its repeated
requests to use the long-range weapons they provide to hit targets on
Russian soil.
Developments on that question could come next weekend at Ramstein Air
Base in Germany, when defense leaders from the 50-plus partner nations
that coordinate military aid to Ukraine are due to meet.
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In this photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry
Press Service on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, a Russian Army "Grad"
self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher fires rockets toward
Ukrainian position at an undisclosed location. (Russian Defense
Ministry Press Service photo via AP)
The conflict has largely been a war of attrition, which requires
large amounts of ammunition. Late on Sunday, Zelenskyy said the war
is in “a very important phase” as the Ukrainian army works hard to
hold the bigger Russian forces at bay in the east while also holding
ground in Russia’s Kursk border region, which it captured two months
ago.
Ukraine needs to “put pressure on Russia in the way that’s necessary
for Russia to realize that the war will gain them nothing,"
Zelenskyy said in a video statement.
“We will continue to apply even greater pressure on Russia — because
only through strength can we bring peace closer,” he added.
Meanwhile, Russia fired six missiles of various types and 74 Shahed
drones at Ukraine overnight, Ukraine’s air force said.
Missile debris fell in three districts of Kyiv, causing minor damage
to civilian infrastructure and starting a fire, Mayor Vitalii
Klitschko said. He said nobody was hurt. Three missile fragments
fell on a kindergarten, he said without elaborating.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it shot down almost two dozen
Ukrainian drones overnight.
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