UKRAINE launched a massive overnight drone attack striking key Russian targets 300 miles behind the enemy line.
A major inferno ignited at an oil depot in Liski, Voronezh region after an attack by at least ten military drones.
Ukrainian drones attack Tambov Gunpowder Plant in Kotovsk, 310 miles from the Ukrainian border[/caption]
The PM is briefed by his military assistant on a train bound for Kyiv[/caption]
Ukrainian drones also targeted the Tambov Gunpowder Plant near Kotovsk, some 310 miles from the Russia-Ukraine border.
The facility is considered one of the main suppliers of explosive materials for the Russian army.
Air defences were actively seeking to protect Vladimir Putin’s military plant used to fuel his massive war machine.
But the drones slipped through the defences at the facility, triggering explosions and the blaze.
Firefighters and special fire trains were rushed from two neighbouring regions to the 23-tank depot which supplies the Russian army.
The massive assault came as British premier Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv to sign a historic 100-year pact with Ukraine.
The Russian defence ministry said: “During the night, air defence systems on duty intercepted and eliminated three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles.”
Alexander Gusev, Putin’s regional governor, said: “The territory of three districts of Voronezh Region was attacked by more than 10 UAVs – most of them hit an oil depot in the Liskinsky district.”
Last night’s airstrike follows Kyiv’s heaviest aerial bombardment of the war that destroyed military facilities inside Russia.
Multiple key targets across Russian territory – including one up to 680 miles behind enemy lines – were blown up by Kyiv’s “massive” aerial strikes.
Ukrainian commanders used a strategic combination of drones to distract Russian air defences before launching missiles to slip through the gaps.
The strike was said to have hit multiple targets in Engels, Saratov, Kazan, Bryansk, and Tula.
A barrage of UAVs then followed the missile strikes that precisely destroyed critical infrastructure – adding to the damage.
Oil storage plants, refineries, and chemical and ammunition works were left in flames while drones hit guided bombs and missile stores.
‘UNBREAKABLE BOND’
The Ukrainian assault comes in the wake of Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Ukraine.
The PM was pictured arriving at Kyiv train station this morning to rubber-stamp the pact ahead of potential peace talks between Kyiv and Russia.
The PM, making his first trip to Kyiv since entering No 10, will likely face questions today over whether British troops will be involved in policing any peace deal.
But his main focus will be revealing the 100-year Partnership to rebuild Ukraine with the aid of British firms and private sector loans.
Sir Keir said there are “unbreakable bonds” between the UK and Ukraine.
The UK is the “preferred partner” for the Kyiv government to rebuild its crippled energy system as well as mine critical minerals and produce greener steel.
The deal will also see coordination in policing the Baltic Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea from Russia, as well as developing drone and space tech together.
The PM is greeted by Ukrainian officials and the British ambassador to Ukraine Martin Harris, right, in Ukraine[/caption]
Keir Starmer being briefed by his unidentified military assistant[/caption]
PEACE IN WEEKS?
A potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine could take place in just weeks after Trump gets back to power, David Lammy revealed last week.
Trump, who is set to take over the White House on January 20, previously said he would stop the bloody war within a day of swearing in as the 47th US president.
Lammy said that it’s “unlikely” that a deal will be achieved on January 21.
However, the UK foreign secretary dropped a bombshell detail about Trump’s peace plan which he thinks could come into action in just a few weeks.
He said the plans for Trump’s peace deal have been pushed for around Easter.
Plans for a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine have been floating around for weeks now, with both sides claiming they are ready for peace talks but “on their own conditions”.
Lammy said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has “set out his own plans” and has been “clear about security guarantees” pointing to Nato membership.
Zelensky revealed his five-step “victory plan” back in October for ending Russia’s war.
The hopeful proposal was based on putting Ukraine in a position of strength and linking its security with the West to deter Russia from invading it again.
DONALD Trump’s top team has hatched a carrot and stick plan to force the warring leaders to the discussion table and bring peace to the region when he enters office in January.
The clever scheme uses America’s military support for Ukraine as a double-edged sword to encourage Zelensky and threaten panicky Putin.
If the Russian war-mongering kept snatching land and refused to join peace talks, Trump would make him suffer by pouring more cash into Ukraine’s military.
Zelensky would be rewarded for following Trump’s lead with support for Ukraine to protect itself under the new terms of any deal.
Under Trump’s plan, Zelensky would have to give up the land Russia has already taken in the eastern regions of Ukraine and drop his dream of immediately joining Nato.
The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly ruled out land sacrifices for most of the war but recently indicated he might consider the option to halt the bloodshed.
If Zelensky did not cooperate, Trump would slash the US support that the Ukrainian military relies on.
There are signs both Zelensky and Putin may fall in line with Trump’s plan which could prove to be a silver bullet.
Insiders close to Trump told The Sun that Putin is “scared to death” of the president-elect and will be ready to talk when he takes power.
But bullish Vlad is already teeing up hard-line terms for any deal brokered by Trump, sources say.
Zelensky indicated he may be open to negotiations, but still has Ukraine joining Nato as part of his “victory plan”.
There is consensus among Trump’s advisors that any peace deal would rule out Ukraine joining Nato in the near future, so this could be a sticking point.
But this is where the US could use the threat of withdrawing military support to leverage Zelensky.