Ukraine War: Russian Oil Platform Struck Far Inside Caspian Sea, Over 700km From Ukraine

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine saw a dramatic development as Ukrainian forces reportedly struck a Russian oil rig in the Caspian Sea. This installation, part of the Filanovsky field, sits more than 700 kilometers (435 miles) from Ukraine's nearest border.

According to a statement released Saturday by Ukraine's military general staff, the strike also targeted the military patrol vessel Okhotnik, which was operating near the platform, along with other facilities in the area. An assessment of the damage inflicted is currently underway. This attack represents a continuation of Kyiv's recent strategy of targeting Russian maritime assets far from Ukrainian territory.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian drones reportedly hit a radar system located in the Krasnosilske region of Crimea, territory Russia annexed in 2014. Furthermore, Ukraine's SBU security service claimed responsibility for the destruction of two Russian fighter aircraft at an airfield also located in occupied Crimea.

Adding to the infrastructure woes, the bridge spanning the Dniester River close to Mayaky, southwest of Pivdennyi in Ukraine’s Odesa region, has been struck at least five times since Thursday by Russian forces, according to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. The bridge, a crucial link connecting parts of the Odesa region separated by the river and sea inlets, is currently out of service. Before being damaged, this route handled approximately 40% of Ukraine's fuel supplies, Kuleba stated. Ukrainian authorities have responded by establishing a pontoon bridge and rerouting logistics through alternative regions to maintain the flow of civilian and freight traffic.

The human cost of the war continues to rise. A Russian strike on the port of Pivdennyi resulted in a death toll that has now reached eight. Vegetable oil producer Allseeds, based in Geneva, reported that three of its sunflower oil storage tanks were set ablaze as a result of the attack. Tragically, one of Allseeds’ employees was killed, and two others sustained injuries.

On the ground, the Ukrainian military reported fending off over 60 attacks on Pokrovsk, a city facing intense Russian pressure. Across the active combat zones, Russian forces launched 42 airstrikes, deploying 101 guided bombs. Additionally, they employed 1,684 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,467 attacks on Ukrainian military positions and settlements. In Izium, a city within the Kharkiv region, guided bomb strikes claimed the lives of two individuals, according to the state emergency service.

In related developments, Russia reported Ukrainian drone incursions into its Belgorod region, as well as an attack on facilities within the Kursk region that left roughly 5,000 residents without power.

Amidst the ongoing conflict, the White House has proposed hosting face-to-face discussions between officials from the US, Russia, and Ukraine, as the Trump administration continues its search for a peaceful resolution. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would support the proposal if it facilitated further prisoner exchanges and created a path toward meetings between national leaders. "America is now proposing a trilateral meeting with national security advisers – America, Ukraine, Russia," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy articulated Ukraine's position on potential peace proposals, emphasizing that the nation seeks to maintain the current frontline without relinquishing control of territory within the Donbas industrial region. "For me, the fair version is we stand where we are now standing," he asserted. US negotiators engaged with Russian officials in Florida on Saturday, following discussions with Ukrainian and European representatives on Friday. The talks were expected to continue on Sunday.