The targeted site may have housed foreign fighters, according to Moscow
© Russian Ministry of Defense
Russian forces have carried out precision strikes on a facility used by Ukrainian special operations forces, the Defense Ministry in Moscow announced Thursday.
The targeted site, located in Ukraine’s Nikolaev Region, reportedly included a munitions depot, a vehicle hangar, a command post, and a dormitory for commandos. The strike was carried out using Geran-2 long-range drones and Iskander-M missiles, according to the ministry. Officials suggested that foreign nationals fighting for Kiev may have been killed in the attack.
Footage released by the ministry and mapping details of the strike point to the location as Ochakov, a key port city near the junction of the Black Sea and the Dnieper–Bug estuary. The Dnieper River forms a natural dividing line between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the south.
© Russian Ministry of Defense
Ochakov is reported to serve as a base for British-assisted naval drone operations, from which Ukraine has launched attacks using unmanned surface vessels against Russian targets in Crimea.
Just south of the city lies the Kinburn Spit, a narrow strip of land connected to Russia’s Kherson Region. Ukrainian forces have attempted to seize the position several times, while Russian troops have used it to launch strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure.
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In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have ramped up long-range drone attacks inside Russian territory, amid pressure from Washington for Kiev to engage in direct peace negotiations with Moscow. The Russian military has responded by targeting suspected drone assembly sites and other strategic installations. The strike on Ochakov appeared to be part of such nighttime operations.