Ukraine has reportedly destroyed up to three months' worth of Russian ammunition in a single night, utilising its own drones. This significant strike underscores the ongoing tensions as Russia adjusts its nuclear response strategy to counter Ukraine's long-range attacks.
In a recent statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined changes to the nation’s nuclear policy. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia's National Security Council, emphasised that a large-scale assault involving aerial attacks could justify the use of nuclear weapons. He warned that aggression against Russia, even from a non-nuclear state like Ukraine—with support from nuclear powers such as the UK, France, and the US—could be viewed as a joint attack.
Despite Ukraine having relinquished its nuclear arsenal in 1994, the support it receives from nuclear-armed allies complicates the situation. Putin has previously warned that using Western-supplied weapons to strike deep into Russia could escalate the conflict to a war with NATO.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have successfully targeted Russian logistics hubs, with attacks on ammunition depots in Tikhoretsk and Toropets resulting in massive explosions. Estonian intelligence suggests that the Toropets strike alone may have cost the Russian military three months' worth of supplies, equating to about 750,000 shells.
The Institute for the Study of War noted that Russia's failure to secure its supply depots may be a result of overconfidence from not facing immediate Western retaliation. As Ukraine prepares for further strikes, the battlefield dynamics could shift dramatically in the coming weeks.
