Summary
A massive Ukrainian drone strike targeted Russian oil refineries and infrastructure, including Moscow’s largest refinery, which supplies 50% of the city’s fuel.
The attack also hit the Druzhba pipeline control station, halting Russian oil exports to Hungary. With over 337 drones striking multiple regions, the operation exploited gaps in Russia’s air defenses.
Hungary, heavily reliant on Russian energy, called the pipeline attack a threat to its sovereignty.
Analysts suggest continued strikes could pressure Russia’s economy and energy dominance, potentially influencing ceasefire negotiations.
Cards are ever-changing, but the main card of both sides is possibly agreeing to stop, if certain conditions are satisfied.
If Ukrainians could have stayed in Kursk, it would have been something to trade back during negotiations. But apparently, Putin didn’t like that prospect and made Russian troops concentrate a lot of force in Kursk. This force came at the expense of other fronts. During the time Russia was bombing Russian territory, it spent less energy bombing Ukraine.
I don’t think Ukrainians are very cheerful about losing Kursk, but it was meant as a distraction - this direction was weakly defended, they got in easily, stayed for six months, just the coming back out turned ugly.
They only withdrew because US stopped intelligence sharing. Unlike Pootang the Tinyman, President Z wants his soldiers to survive.
That’s right, Ukrainians wanted to use Kursk to trade against something else during the negotiations; soon they might not be able to do that anymore.