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Ukraine’s defense forces have carried out a series of precision strikes on facilities supporting the Russian army with fuel, logistics, and air defense, targeting in particular Lukoil-operated offshore drilling platforms in the Caspian Sea, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said.
According to the statement, Ukrainian forces hit three drilling platforms owned by Russia’s Lukoil corporation in the Caspian Sea — the Vladimir Filanovsky, Yuri Korchagin, and Valery Grayfer platforms.
The facilities are used to support the needs of Russia’s occupation forces, including the supply of energy resources. “Direct hits have been confirmed. The extent of the damage is being assessed,” Ukraine’s defense forces said.
In addition, Ukrainian units struck a launcher of a Buk-M3 medium-range surface-to-air missile system near Baranycheve in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine’s Luhansk region. The air defense system had been providing cover for Russian troops against aerial threats, and explosions were recorded at the site following the strike, according to preliminary information.
Ukrainian forces also hit a logistics and supply depot of Russia’s 49th Army near Novotroitske in the occupied part of Ukraine’s Kherson region. The strike was aimed at disrupting Russian supply chains and reducing the combat capability of occupying forces.
“Only facilities directly involved in Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine are being targeted,” the defense forces emphasized.
Strikes on Russian oil platforms in the Caspian Sea
Ukrainian security service drones have previously attacked Russian oil production platforms in the Caspian Sea, striking key equipment and forcing production shutdowns.
On Friday morning, December 12, the first confirmed strike on such a platform in the region was reported — a precedent-setting attack on Russian oil-related infrastructure in the Caspian Sea. Later that evening, SBU drones carried out a follow-up strike in the same area, again halting operations at the offshore platforms.
