Ukraine strikes Russia overnight, claiming largest attack of war so far

Ukraine struck several targets inside Russia on Tuesday in what it said was the “most” military operation to date.

Explosive weapons and chemical plants were hit in several areas, some of which were hundreds of kilometers from the border, according to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Sources in Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency have told the BBC that the overnight attack was a “devastating blow” to Russia’s military capabilities.

Russia said it fired Atacms missiles supplied by the US and UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, and vowed to respond to the incident.

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

The airstrike in the border region of Bryansk led to the explosion of an oil refinery, a weapons depot and a chemical plant allegedly producing dust and explosives, a Ukrainian security source told the BBC.

But Kyiv also reached deep into the country, with the General Staff saying it hit up to 1,100km (700 miles) from the border.

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

Two industrial plants in the cities of Engels and Saratov were destroyed, regional governor Roman V. Busargin wrote in the Telegraph.

Students were taught online Tuesday after local schools were closed.

Last week, Kyiv said it had hit the Engels oil depot – prompting days of efforts to put the fire out and Busgarin declaring a state of emergency.

Officials in western Tula reported the night attack, while the regional governor Dmitry V. Milyaev Russian said the air defense shot down 16 drones.

There were no injuries, he said, although the debris that fell damaged cars and some buildings.

Elsewhere, a gas storage facility near Kazan was hit by a drone attack in southwestern Tatarstan, government officials said, without citing casualties.

Moscow also deployed dozens of drones across Ukraine overnight, with several reports of airstrikes in and around Kyiv.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down about 60 of the 80 fighters involved in the attack, resulting in casualties.

Ukraine is trying to push back, however it can, against the advance of Russian troops on the ground, with a week to go before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump said he was plans to meet with Vladimir Putin when he returns to the White House.

He has expressed skepticism about US military aid and funding to Kyiv, and has promised to prioritize talks to end the war.

He did not clearly explain how he would do this.