Ukrainian forces launched massive strikes on Russian military infrastructure and logistical hubs in Russian-occupied Luhansk, Donetsk, and Crimea overnight on 30 June into 1 July, using drones and missiles to hit high-value targets.

Oil depot in Luhansk hit during drone barrage

Loud explosions rocked occupied Luhansk overnight on 1 July, triggering large fires reportedly caused by Ukrainian drone strikes. According to Russian occupation authorities and Russian propaganda media cited by Liga, around 20 drones were spotted over Luhansk, prompting the introduction of a “caution regime” in several cities in the region, including Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch), Lutuhyne, Dovzhanask (formerly Sverdlovsk), Sukodolsk, and Bilokurakyne.

Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, stated that Ukrainian forces struck Russian logistics facilities in Luhansk.

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ published video footage of the strike, showing night-time explosions and flames rising from what they identified as the city’s only major oil depot, located in its southern outskirts.

In one video, locals filming the strike mention that four drones directly hit the facility. Another video shared on the channel shows two distinct clusters of fires and the sound of a drone flyby, with sounds of small arms fire as the Russian forces attempted to shoot it down.

Missile strike levels Russian military HQ in Donetsk

Earlier on the evening of 30 June, Ukrainian missiles hit a Russian military target in occupied Donetsk. Kovalenko referred to the strike as “jewelry work” and described the site as “very juicy.”

Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ shared footage of the attack, with one of the clips showing two consecutive explosions, and others a large fire. The channel claimed that Ukraine used Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles to strike the headquarters of Russia’s 8th Combined Arms Army, located at the Donetsk Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals (DonIsSM). The Dnipro-based outlet Harbuz also attributed the attack to Storm Shadow missiles.

Some Ukrainian sources, including the Telegram page Kiberboroshno, alleged that the facility was involved in Russian drone and electronic warfare systems development. Russian channels attempted to downplay the strike by claiming no military personnel had been stationed in the building recently.

One video captured the immediate aftermath, showing several floors collapsed down to the basement. On-site rescuers speaking to people filming — presumed to be from Russia’s FSB security agency — described the scene using Russian military casualty codes — “300” for wounded and “200” for dead — confirming the presence of both.

Supernova+ commented that “the building was hit down to the basement… they’re carrying out ‘200s’ in packs.”

Meanwhile, local propaganda outlets confirmed the city had been targeted by Storm Shadow missiles and reported additional fires at the Sokol market. Unconfirmed reports suggested hits also occurred at a metallurgical plant and in the railway zone.

One of the Supernova-shared videos shows multiple strikes in Yasynuvata, Donetsk’s northern suburb, hosting a railway hub and multiple industrial facilities.

Drone strikes in Crimea knock out air defense and fighter jet

Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) released exclusive footage showing its UJ-26 Bober drones targeting Russian military systems in occupied Crimea. The video captures strikes on several key air defense assets, including the Pantsir-S1 SAM system, Niobiy-SV radar, Pechora-3 coastal radar, and Protivnik-GE radar. A Russian Su-30 fighter jet was also damaged or destroyed on the runway at the Saky airbase.

HUR commented:

“Reliable weapons in the hands of Ukrainian special forces are turning the enemy’s critical military assets into worthless junk.”

The attacks reflect a broader Ukrainian strategy of targeting critical Russian military and logistical infrastructure in occupied territories amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

Russia used overwhelming artillery superiority and white phosphorus munitions to seize control over Sievierodonetsk in Luhansk Oblast in 2022, said a Ukrainian 3rd Special Operations Forces Regiment soldier, known by the callsign Vorobey in the latest interview, ArmyInform reports. 

White phosphorus ignites spontaneously upon contact with air. When released it burns fiercely at temperatures around 815°C. It sticks to skin and clothing, causing thermal and chemical burns that can penetrate down to the bone. Its extinguishing is extremely difficult because it continues to burn as long as it is exposed to oxygen.

“They knew that in close combat, they’re much weaker,” explained Vorobey, explaining the Russian tactics.

Instead, Russian forces relied on artillery and armored vehicles to level everything in their path.

“The first line of buildings, when it starts to collapse, you have to fall back a little. They just dumped phosphorus on us, burning everything,” he recalled. 

At the beginning of the battle, when the bridges were still intact, Ukrainian operators would “fly in” on light armored vehicles and clear the streets. Later, when the connections were destroyed, they had to cross the river on rafts and hold the industrial zone.

Vorobey is confident that Ukrainian defenders were capable of holding out longer. 

“We had everything. We had water, food, and ammo. We could have held ‘Sever’ for another month,” he said.

However, due to intense pressure on the flanks, Ukrainian forces had to withdraw to preserve their personnel.

Currently, Russia’s reliance on massed artillery has sharply declined due to Ukrainian countermeasures and Russia’s own shift toward drone warfare. Drones now play a central role in Russian tactics, with artillery use becoming more precise and less frequent.

Top Ukrainian drone commander warns ceasefire would only pause war with Russia