Russia’s War Machine Is Burning at Home

Ukraine’s deep strike campaign is now reaching across Russia, from occupied Crimea and the Black Sea to the Azov Sea, Moscow’s military industrial belt, and the Rybinsk oil tank farm.

Moscow claimed 123 Ukrainian drones were intercepted, but the attacks still reached facilities tied to missiles, defense, space industries, and fuel storage.

Russia answered with 681 drones and missiles against Ukraine, according to Ukraine, including cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, Zircons, and drones. Ukrainian officials said 632 were suppressed or shot down. Dnipro was hit, civilians were killed, and Kyiv’s nearly 1,000-year-old Pechersk Lavra was damaged.

Inside Russia, the pressure is spreading beyond the front line. The episode covers fuel shortages, rising delivery costs, air defenses on Moscow buildings, shadow fleet vessels being boarded, and collapsing Crimea tourism. It also cites The Economist reporting 658 Ukrainian deep strikes in 2025, compared with 335 from 2022 to 2024, and more than $22 billion in Russian refinery repair costs since 2024.