“A target in Ryazan was attacked. There was significant damage,” the DIU source said. Meanwhile, detailed information about the aftermath of the attack on the Voronezh oil refinery is still being collected.
The Ryazan refinery is operated by Rosneft, a Russian state-owned oil company.
DIU typically neither confirms nor denies attacks. However, they emphasized that Russian oil refineries are considered legitimate military targets for Ukraine.
Russia prepares to attack, but is choosing direction
The Russian army has several tactical options for future attacks near Avdiivka. But it’s still unclear which areas they will focus on.
Analysts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on April 30 that the stabilization of the positions of Russian forces northwest of Avdiivka has left the Russian command with a choice: either continue to advance. west towards achieving the objective at Pokrovsk, or attempt to advance north for possible additional offensive operations around Chasiv Yar.
According to ISW, Russian forces have made additional strategic gains northwest and southwest of Avdiivka since April 29, but have not made any significant progress toward Avdiivka in the past 24 hours.
Russian forces have the opportunity to choose the tactical direction of future attacks near Avdiivka, but it remains unclear in which area they will focus their efforts.
The West not only transferred F-16 aircraft but also accompanying weapons to Ukraine
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff – Charles Brown, said Western countries will not only provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets but also accompanying weapons.
“In terms of F-16 aid, it’s not just the aircraft but also pilot training, maintenance training and also making sure that there’s a weapons system that goes with it,” Brown said during a hearing at the Commission. House Armed Services Committee. “That’s the conversation we have to have to not only help them get the aircraft but also get the aircraft to its maximum capability.”
Kiev said in early April that five groups of Ukrainian pilots were being trained to fly US F-16 fighter jets in the UK, Denmark, the US and France. At the end of August 2023, the Netherlands said it would transfer 42 F-16s to Ukraine, while Denmark promised to transfer 19 to Kiev.