Ukraine Strikes Russian Command Hub with British Storm Shadow Missiles
Ukraine has launched British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against a Russian command center located in occupied Donetsk. The strikes reportedly targeted the Topaz military plant and the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant, occurring after a significant embarrassment for President Vladimir Putin following the failure of Russian White Swan nuclear bombers. This escalation follows Ukraine’s recent success in seizing a key Russian checkpoint.
According to Denis Pushilin, the Kremlin-backed leader of the Donetsk region, the assault resulted in two fatalities and injured 17 others. Ukrainian forces also deployed Palyanitsa drones to strike targets in Donetsk and the nearby city of Makiivka, contributing to a growing tally of Russian military losses in 2025. Russian media shared images of missile debris, asserting they were remnants of the Storm Shadow missiles supplied by Britain and France.
In a separate incident, tensions with NATO escalated when a Russian drone allegedly crossed into Polish airspace, coinciding with one of the most extensive Russian attacks during the ongoing conflict. If verified, this would mark only the second instance this year of Ukraine utilizing Storm Shadow missiles, leading to speculation about the status of their supplies.
Details of the Assault and Casualties
The Topaz facility reportedly served as a command hub for Putin’s 41st Combined Arms Army, while the metallurgical plant was believed to house the 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division. Video footage captured smoke billowing from central Donetsk, illustrating the intensity of the assault. Additionally, Ukraine targeted Sochi, a prominent Black Sea resort and the site of Putin’s summer residence, currently under renovation. The drone strike resulted in one death when debris struck a vehicle. Veniamin Kondratyev, the regional governor of Krasnodar, confirmed the incident, stating, “A man died. Drone fragments hit the car he was driving.”
In a notable counter-strike, Ukrainian military intelligence reported executing an attack nearly 8,000 kilometers from the frontline, targeting a facility linked to war crimes committed in Bucha and Irpin three years prior. The attack reportedly involved two explosive devices detonating in a car park near a military unit. A source indicated the explosions occurred around 09:00 on Monday, coinciding with the arrival of Russian military personnel for duty. The target was allegedly Military Unit 6912 of the 748th separate operational battalion of the Russian Guards. Following the blasts, Russian authorities reportedly imposed internet restrictions and redirected public transport to prevent residents from learning about the incident.
Worsening Conditions and Ongoing Attacks
Footage has emerged showing a hospital in Kostiantynivka reduced to rubble by Russian bombardment. Once home to 60,000 residents, the city is now largely devastated as Russian forces persist in their unsuccessful attempts to capture it. “A huge crater and one block is gone,” remarked a voice in the video. “I can’t even remember how many lives the doctors saved here… Now that’s all – it’s closed and was finally destroyed. Kostiantynivka is just… turning into ruins.”
Overnight, Russian forces employed Shahed drones to strike the city of Zaporizhzhia, resulting in injuries to a 66-year-old woman. In the Kupiansk district of the Kharkiv region, two children sustained injuries from an explosion. Concurrently, there are indications that Russia is repositioning forces from the north, as the ATESH partisan network released images of military equipment, including two BMP infantry vehicles and a Typhoon-K armored truck, being transported by rail towards the frontline.
As the conflict continues to escalate, further information regarding the destruction and casualties is anticipated, highlighting the ongoing impact on both military and civilian populations in the region.
