CITIZENS NEWS

Ukraine strikes deep into Russia with drones as battle for Pokrovsk escalates

By kevinhughes // 2025-11-05

• Ukrainian forces launched a deep-strike drone attack on Russia's Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant (800 miles inside Russian territory), damaging critical infrastructure. Simultaneously, Russia retaliated with a massive drone/missile barrage (130 drones, seven missiles) targeting Ukrainian cities and energy facilities.
• Russian forces intensified assaults on Pokrovsk, a strategic eastern Ukrainian city, encircling supply lines and gaining ground. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it the war's "hottest spot," with 30 percent of combat operations now concentrated there.
• Ukraine's long-range drone strikes aim to cripple Russia's war economy (aviation fuel, oil facilities), while Russia targets Ukraine's energy grid ahead of winter—both sides inflicting reciprocal damage with no decisive advantage.
• Despite ongoing violence, Ukraine and Russia conducted a rare prisoner swap (wounded soldiers and those under 25). Peace talks remain frozen, with Moscow rejecting Kyiv's ceasefire demands.
• The conflict is devolving into attritional warfare, with Ukraine demonstrating resilience in deep strikes and Russia doubling down on territorial gains. Civilian suffering escalates as winter approaches, with no diplomatic resolution on the horizon.

Ukrainian forces launched one of their deepest drone incursions into Russian territory this week, targeting an industrial petrochemical plant nearly 800 miles inside Russia—marking a significant escalation in Kyiv's long-range strike capabilities. The attack coincided with intensified fighting around the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are pressing forward in a brutal offensive. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the drone incursions by Ukraine into Russia can be attributed to several strategic and geopolitical factors, rooted in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. Ukraine's drone incursions into Russian territory are a strategic response to Russia's invasion, allowing Ukraine to inflict damage on Russian forces, gather valuable intelligence and demonstrate its resolve in the face of overwhelming odds. These operations are also a reflection of the broader geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West. Early Tuesday, Nov. 4, Ukrainian drones struck the Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant in Russia's Bashkortostan region, causing an explosion that partially collapsed the facility's water treatment system. The plant, which produces aviation fuel and rubber, had never before been targeted in the war. Bashkortostan Governor Radiy Habirov claimed both drones were shot down and reported no casualties, but local authorities confirmed structural damage. Ukrainian officials have not publicly claimed responsibility, though Kyiv has increasingly relied on domestically produced long-range drones to disrupt Russia's war economy. Additional explosions were reported in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region, home to critical oil and petrochemical infrastructure. Russian media acknowledged the blasts but did not confirm damage. Moscow's Defense Ministry claimed 85 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight across multiple regions. While Ukraine struck deep inside Russia, Russian forces escalated their assault on Pokrovsk, a linchpin of Ukraine's eastern defenses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it the hottest spot on the front, with 30 percent of all combat operations now concentrated there. Russian troops have slowly encircled the city, choking supply lines and bombarding Ukrainian positions with guided munitions. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces are gaining ground and operating "with increasing comfort" inside Pokrovsk. Ukrainian military intelligence reported ongoing "fierce clashes" as Kyiv struggles to hold the city—a vital logistical hub connecting eastern Ukraine to the rest of the country.

Russia retaliates with massive drone, missile barrage

In response to Ukraine's deep strikes, Russia launched a massive overnight assault, firing 130 strike and decoy drones alongside seven missiles at Ukrainian targets. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 92 drones, but at least one civilian was killed and 11 injured, including two children, in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Near the NATO border, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian Danube River port facilities, triggering Romanian air force patrols after "numerous explosions" were observed. Romania's Defense Ministry deployed fighter jets in response. Despite the violence, both sides conducted a prisoner exchange, swapping wounded soldiers and those under 25—a rare moment of cooperation amid relentless fighting. However, peace talks remain stalled, with Moscow rejecting Kyiv's demands for an unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine's deep-strike drone campaign demonstrates its ability to hit critical Russian infrastructure, disrupting Moscow's war machine. Meanwhile, Russia's escalating attacks on Pokrovsk signal a potential shift toward attritional warfare, with neither side willing to back down. As winter approaches, the conflict shows no signs of resolution, leaving civilians caught in a cycle of destruction with no clear path to peace. Watch the video below about Ukraine launching massive drone attacks. This video is from the Maverick News channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com BrightU.ai APNews.com RadioFreeEuropeRadioLiberty.org Brighteon.com

Russia NATO Ukraine national security violence Moscow big government west dangerous Romania WWIII weapons tech Volodymyr Zelensky Kyiv Russian forces miliary tech drone incursions Pokrovsk Bashkortostan