Vladimir Putin faced embarrassment on his birthday as a distant drone strike targeted Russia from 1,200 miles away. Ukrainian drones carried out the attack on the city of Tyumen in Siberia, resulting in a significant emergency response. Three drones were intercepted over an industrial site, leading to debris and reports of explosions and fire trucks on the scene.
Simultaneously, Russia launched missiles towards Ukraine to commemorate Putin’s 73rd birthday on October 7. Ukraine reported the use of Iskander missiles and over 150 strike drones directed at the country, with some managing to breach air defenses.
This drone assault ranks among the longest in the conflict, following a previous strike covering 1,100 miles in August. Additionally, there was an attack on the Belaya Air Base in eastern Siberia in June, part of Kyiv’s ‘Operation Spiderweb’, spanning a distance of 2,700 miles from the Ukrainian border.
Despite downplaying the incident, Russian authorities stated that the drone attack caused minimal damage. Reports indicated that the drones were neutralized, and there was no fire at the undisclosed industrial facility, avoiding harm to the Antipinsky oil refinery.
Russia also claimed to have intercepted nearly 200 Ukrainian drones, with some targeting the Krasnodar region, home to Putin’s extravagant palatial residences, resulting in the closure of Sochi airport. Dzerzhinsk in the Nizhny Novgorod region was targeted, following earlier strikes by Ukraine on a major Russian explosives manufacturer. Ukrainian attacks were also reported in Moscow, the Kursk region, and Stary Oskol in the Belgorod region.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump hinted at supplying long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, seeking assurances on their intended targets. This move challenged Putin’s warning that it could damage their relationship, with Trump emphasizing the need to avoid escalation.
Putin expressed concerns that such actions could harm their positive relations, stressing the unpredictability of the outcome. The evolving situation could impact not only Russia but also other stakeholders involved in the conflict.