Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) notes that the special operation targeted the Koltsevoye oil pipeline, which supplied resources to the Russian army, and is located just fifty kilometres from the Russian capital,

Fighting for control of the strategic hub of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine is intensifying, with the Russian Defense Ministry claiming to have eliminated a group of Ukrainian special forces sent to help defend the area.

Russian troops thwarted an attempt by Ukrainian special forces to fly soldiers in via a helicopter to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk, Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday.

The strikes, which were the latest in Russia’s almost daily attacks on the Ukrainian power grid as bitter winter temperatures approach, killed at least six people, including a 7-year-old girl, according to authorities. Children between 2 and 16 years of age were among the 18 injured.

Ukrainian drones targeted oil depots in the city of Simferopol and the village of Hvardiiske in Russian-occupied Crimea overnight on Oct. 29, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported.

Ukraine said Wednesday it had assassinated a Russian officer responsible for war crimes, targeting him in a car bomb inside Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is claiming that Ukrainian forces are surrounded by the Russian army in two key eastern cities and is offering to negotiate a deal for their surrender