Ukraine fires 660 drones at Russia overnight, hitting Tula chemical plant and Crimea energy grid
Russia's defence ministry reported 660 Ukrainian drones intercepted across 13-plus regions, the largest single overnight barrage of the war; the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk was struck; Crimea faces renewed fuel shortages
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Ukraine struck the Slavyansk-na-Kubani refinery in Krasnodar (4 million tonnes/year capacity) and the Yaroslavl refinery 700 km apart in overnight strikes; drone debris killed one person in Slavyansk. Putin acknowledged a 'certain deficit' of fuel and vowed to strengthen oil-facility protection, his first public admission of the campaign's impact. ↗
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Ukraine's Special Operations Forces confirmed strike on Orenburg Helium Plant, Russia's only helium facility, 1,500 km from the front line; fires visible on site video. ↗
Summary
Ukraine launched a 660-drone overnight barrage against Russia on June 25-26, the largest single-night drone operation of the war, surpassing the previous record of 556 drones set on May 17. Russia's defence ministry reported drones intercepted across more than 13 regions including Moscow, Crimea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Ukrainian sources confirmed strikes on the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk, Tula region, a Gazprom-affiliated facility producing chemicals used in solid rocket propellant, and on Crimea's energy infrastructure. Ukraine's Special Operations Forces also struck the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant and the adjacent Orenburg Helium Plant, Russia's only helium production facility, approximately 1,500 km from the front line. Video showed fires at the Orenburg site. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed waves of drones approached the capital from 2:30 AM, with at least 39 intercepted by 5:45 AM. Russia denied seeking Belarusian military participation in the war.
The split
The Kyiv Independent framed the barrage as a deliberate counterstrike timed to follow Russia's killing of 24 civilians hours earlier, emphasising capital-to-capital symmetry as political leverage. Al Jazeera and NBC News led with the 660 figure and the record-setting scale. Kyiv Post focused on the industrial target logic: the Tula Azot plant and Orenburg Helium plant as degradation of Russia's rocket and satellite supply chains, not just symbolic strikes on the capital. Russian state media minimised damage to Moscow while foregrounding the intercept count.
By the numbers
- 660, Ukrainian drones launched overnight, Russia's claimed intercept total across 13-plus regions
- 556, previous single-night record, set May 17, now surpassed
- 39, drones intercepted over Moscow alone, per Mayor Sobyanin's Telegram
- 1,500 km, distance to the Orenburg Helium Plant from the front line, the war's deepest confirmed strike
- ~450 km, distance to the Tula Azot plant from the front
Why it matters
The 660-drone figure marks a step-change in Ukraine's long-range strike capacity. Targeting Orenburg's only helium plant degrades supply chains for satellite communications and rocket guidance, while the Tula Azot strikes hit solid rocket propellant production. The simultaneous Crimea grid strikes continue the strategy of making the annexed peninsula economically costly to supply. Russia's denial of seeking Belarusian involvement signals political sensitivity around the prospect of widening the war.
What to watch
- Damage assessment at the Tula Azot plant and the Orenburg Helium Plant, both strategic industrial nodes.
- Whether Russia retaliates with a further mass missile attack on Ukrainian cities or critical infrastructure.
- Crimea fuel and electricity situation: whether cumulative grid strikes create a visible supply crisis on the peninsula.