Video footage has emerged showing a Ukrainian backseat gunner successfully shooting down a Russian Shahed drone from the open cockpit of a Yak-52 aircraft. The drone, identified as an Iranian-supplied weapon adapted by Russian forces, was seen trailing smoke before exploding after being targeted with an assault rifle.
These strikes on Russian territory coincide with a reported new wave of long-range attacks by Ukrainian forces. One notable incident involved a strike on a key nuclear missile base in the Saratov region, where flames were reported at the Engels-2 base. This facility is known to house strategic nuclear bombers that have been utilized in Russian missile strikes against Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces have also demonstrated their long-distance unmanned aerial capabilities with strikes targeting oil refineries. An explosion occurred at a refinery in the Siberian city of Tyumen, approximately 1,170 miles from the front lines. Another refinery in the Ulyanovsk region, over 600 miles from Ukraine, was also hit by kamikaze drones, resulting in a fire.
In addition to infrastructure targets, Russia's e-commerce giant Wildberries, often referred to as Russia's Amazon, has been the subject of repeated drone attacks, reportedly ten times in the past week. The latest incident narrowly missed a warehouse in Yekaterinburg, over 1,000 miles from the front line, but damaged delivery trucks and prompted an evacuation.
These developments follow new intelligence suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning a significant autumn offensive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that intelligence indicates Russia is preparing a large-scale mobilization draft for September or October, aiming to counter setbacks on the front lines where Russian forces are reportedly suffering high casualties.
Zelensky emphasized the need for Ukraine to proactively defend itself through various means, including actions on the front lines, long-range and mid-range strikes, diplomacy, and international communication.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense also reported the failure of a large-scale Russian armored assault on the Dobropillia axis, claiming the destruction of nine Russian tanks, two armored vehicles, three Grad multiple rocket launchers, and numerous soldiers through drone strikes.
These offensive actions by Ukraine come after a significant Ukrainian loss, where a Russian attack on an arms exhibition resulted in ten deaths and 70 injuries. Among the deceased was Valentyna Savitska, head of the Centre for International Co-operation and Strategic Communications at the State Security Service.