Russia's Arctic Gas Production Capitol Hit By Ukraine In Deepest Strike of the War

Ukrainian drones struck Russia's gas production capitol in a remote section of Siberia, 1,740 miles away, the deepest Ukrainian strike of the war. 

This latest attack demonstrated that the reach of Ukraine's drones continues to improve and that no Kremlin asset is beyond Kyiv's ability to target it. Ukraine has now knocked out 43% of Russia's refinery capacity, a devastating economic loss for Putin's ability to continue the war. JL

Antonia Langford reports in The Telegraph:

Ukraine hit an industrial facility in Siberia located 1,740 miles from the border, the deepest strike it has achieved on Russian soil. Kyiv's drones targeted the remote city of Novy Urengoy, in the Yamalo-Nenets region, causing a fire. The region, Russia's gas capital, accounts for 80% of the country's gas production. The intended target was the Novy Urengoy condensate treatment plant, which has a capacity of some 19.5 million tonnes of raw material a year. On Wednesday, drone threats were also activated for the first time in Khanty-Mansiysk in west-central Siberia, located some 1,550 miles from the Ukrainian border. Residents were told to remain inside, stay away from windows and keep to safe locations until the air raid was lifted. As of this summer, Ukraine has hit almost every Russian refinery within the range of its drones, knocking out 43% of refinery capacity

Ukraine hit an industrial facility in Siberia located at least 1,740 miles from the border, the deepest strike it has achieved on Russian soil.

Kyiv's drones targeted the remote Russian city of Novy Urengoy, in the Yamalo-Nenets region, causing a fire that Russian authorities claimed was caused by falling debris.

"There are no fatalities or injuries," wrote Dmitry Artyukhov, the Yamalo-Nenets governor, on Telegram. "The extent and nature of the damage are being assessed." 

The region, viewed as Russia's unofficial gas capital, accounts for about 80 per cent of the country's gas production, according to Agentstvo, an independent Russian outlet.

The intended target was the Novy Urengoy condensate treatment plant, which has a capacity of some 19.5 million tonnes of raw material a year.

It marked the first time that the region had been targeted by a drone attack, Russian media reported, and was the greatest distance covered throughout the war in Ukraine, surpassing a strike in July on the Omsk oil refinery, which is 1,550 miles from the border. 

Fire Point, a Ukrainian defence start-up that manufactures most of the deep-strike drones Kyiv uses on Russian territory, claimed that its munitions had travelled more than 2,000 miles (3,200km) to reach their target.

"FP-1 drones just smashed a range record, striking over 3,200km deep," it wrote on X. "Direct hits confirmed inside the facility. Damage assessment is under way."

On Wednesday, drone threats were also activated for the first time in Khanty-Mansiysk in west-central Siberia, located some 1,550 miles from the Ukrainian border.

Residents were told by authorities to remain inside, stay away from windows and keep to safe locations until the air raid was lifted.

Ukrainian authorities did not immediately comment on the strike. On Wednesday morning, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, wrote on X: "I thank everyone developing our long-range sanctions capabilities, so that Russia's war is increasingly felt where it came from." 

As of this summer, Ukraine has hit almost every Russian refinery within the range of its drones, knocking out some 43 per cent of refinery capacity, according to military authorities.

Overnight on Wednesday, it hit a fuel terminal in Novorossiysk as well as the Novorossiysk naval base.

Mr Zelensky has also claimed that Russian airspace will be "effectively closing" as a result of Ukraine's attacks. On Wednesday, operations were temporarily suspended at at least six airports as a result of its strikes.

Russia has also been developing its long-range capabilities. A Ukrainian military intelligence official said on Tuesday that Russia planned to conduct tests of a new ballistic missile with a range of 500 miles by the end of 2026, with the intention of launching it against western regions of the country.