Ukraine Launches Deep Strikes on Russian Military Aircraft Facilities
In a significant escalation of its long-range capabilities, Ukraine's military has conducted precision strikes on two key Russian plants involved in the production and maintenance of military transport and cargo planes. The attacks, confirmed by the Ukrainian general staff on Wednesday, targeted facilities located approximately 800 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, demonstrating Kyiv's growing reach into Russian territory.
Targeting Aviastar and Maintenance Plants
The first strike hit the Aviastar plant in Ulyanovsk on 16 March, a facility integral to Russia's United Aircraft Corporation. This plant is responsible for manufacturing Ilyushin-76MD-90A military transport planes and Ilyushin-78M-90A refueling aircraft, while also providing maintenance for "Ruslan" cargo planes. Ukrainian forces reported that hangars and parking areas were successfully hit, resulting in damage to several aircraft.
A subsequent attack occurred on 17 March at the 123rd aircraft maintenance plant in Staraya Russia, Novgorod region. This facility specialises in the full cycle of repairs and modernisation for heavy transport planes, including Ilyushin-76, Ilyushin-78, and L-410 models. Ukrainian drone forces emphasised on social media platform X that "striking such targets directly reduces the enemy's ability to restore and sustain combat-ready aircraft."
Internal Kremlin Criticism Emerges
In a surprising development, Ilya Remeslo, a long-time pro-Kremlin operator, has publicly turned against Russian President Vladimir Putin. Remeslo posted a manifesto to his 90,000 Telegram followers titled "Five reasons why I stopped supporting Vladimir Putin," accusing the president of waging a "failing war" in Ukraine that has caused millions of casualties and devastated the Russian economy. He explicitly called for Putin to step aside, marking a rare instance of internal dissent from within Putin's circle.
International Sanctions and Environmental Fallout
Spanish police have arrested three individuals in Mallorca for allegedly assisting a Russian national in evading EU sanctions related to the invasion of Ukraine. The suspects, a man and two women, are accused of acting as fronts to manage luxury properties, bank accounts, and vehicles to shield assets from seizure. Spanish media identified the Russian national as Nikolai Kolesov, a businessman linked to the military sector and considered close to Putin, who heads a major supplier of helicopters to the Russian army.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Moldovans are facing water shortages after a Russian strike on Ukraine's Novodnistrovsk hydropower plant on 7 March led to oil pollution in the Dniester River. Moldovan President Maia Sandu has blamed Russia for the contamination, stating it "threatens Moldova's water supply," as the plant supplies water to approximately 80% of Moldova's population of 2.5 million.
Legal and Diplomatic Developments
In the United Kingdom, officials are preparing for a potential court case against Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich after he missed a deadline to release £2.4 billion raised from the sale of Chelsea FC. The funds are intended for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine, and government officials have warned Abramovich's lawyers of legal action to ensure the money is allocated accordingly.
On the diplomatic front, Russian officials have labelled an attack on the Arctic Metagaz LNG tanker in the Mediterranean Sea as "an act of international terrorism," claiming it was targeted by Ukrainian naval drones launched from the Libyan coast. Additionally, the Russian defence ministry announced the capture of Oleksandrivka village in Donetsk region, while Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's call to normalise relations with Moscow, suggesting it shows "some sanity left in parts of Europe." De Wever's remarks have been criticised by other European leaders for contradicting EU policies against Russia.
NATO Infrastructure Concerns
A senior NATO military officer has advocated for extending the alliance's cold war-era fuel pipeline network hundreds of kilometres eastward to ensure adequate supplies for troops in the event of a future conflict with Russia. The 10,000-kilometre pipeline network, currently spanning 12 countries but ending in western Germany, serves both military bases like the US Ramstein airbase and civilian hubs such as Frankfurt Airport.
