Ukraine attacks Russia overnight, claiming largest war attack yet

Ukraine struck several targets deep inside Russia on Tuesday in what it said was the “most massive” attack of the war so far.

According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, ammunition deportations and chemical factories were hit in several regions, some of which were hundreds of kilometers from the border.

Sources from Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service told the BBC that the overnight attack was a “painful blow” to Russia’s ability to wage war.

Russia said it had been shot down US-supplied Atacms missiles as well as British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, and vowed to respond to the attack.

At least nine airports in central and western Russia have temporarily halted traffic, while strikes have forced schools in the southwestern Saratov region to close.

Strikes in the Bryansk border area caused explosions at a refinery, ammunition depots and a chemical plant that would produce gunpowder and explosives, a Ukrainian security source told the BBC.

But Kiev also struck much deeper into the country, with the General Staff claiming to have hit targets up to 1,100 kilometers from the border.

In the western region of Saratov, officials reported a “massive” drone attack.

Two industrial plants in the cities of Engels and Saratov were damaged, regional governor Roman V. Busargin wrote on Telegram.

Students were taught online Tuesday after local schools closed.

Last week, Kiev said it had hit an oil warehouse in Engels, prompting a days-long effort to tackle the fire and declaring a state of emergency in Busgarin.

Officials in the western region of Tula also reported a nighttime attack, with regional governor Dmitry V. Milyaev Russian saying air defenses shot down 16 drones.

There were no casualties, he said, although falling debris had damaged some cars and buildings.

Elsewhere, a gas depot near Kazan was hit by a drone strike in the southwestern region of Tatarstan, local officials said, without reporting any casualties.

Moscow also launched dozens of drones across Ukraine overnight, with multiple airstrike warnings in and around Kiev.

The Ukrainian air force said it shot down about 60 of the 80 drones involved in the attack, causing no casualties.

Ukraine is trying, however possible, to resist Russian military advances on the ground, with a week to go until the inauguration of newly elected President Donald Trump.

Trump has said yes prepare to meet with Vladimir Putin upon his return to the White House.

He has expressed skepticism about US military and financial support for Kiev, and vowed to prioritize negotiations to end the war.

He has not made it clear how he will do that.