Ukrainian forces launched massive strikes on Russian military infrastructure and logistical hubs in Russian-occupied Luhansk, Donetsk, and Crimea overnight on 30 June into 1 July, using drones and missiles to hit high-value targets.
Oil depot in Luhansk hit during drone barrage
Loud explosions rocked occupied Luhansk overnight on 1 July, triggering large fires reportedly caused by Ukrainian drone strikes. According to Russian occupation authorities and Russian propaganda media cited by Liga, around 20 drones were spotted over Luhansk, prompting the introduction of a “caution regime” in several cities in the region, including Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch), Lutuhyne, Dovzhanask (formerly Sverdlovsk), Sukodolsk, and Bilokurakyne.
Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, stated that Ukrainian forces struck Russian logistics facilities in Luhansk.
Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ published video footage of the strike, showing night-time explosions and flames rising from what they identified as the city’s only major oil depot, located in its southern outskirts.
In one video, locals filming the strike mention that four drones directly hit the facility. Another video shared on the channel shows two distinct clusters of fires and the sound of a drone flyby, with sounds of small arms fire as the Russian forces attempted to shoot it down.
Missile strike levels Russian military HQ in Donetsk
Earlier on the evening of 30 June, Ukrainian missiles hit a Russian military target in occupied Donetsk. Kovalenko referred to the strike as “jewelry work” and described the site as “very juicy.”
Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ shared footage of the attack, with one of the clips showing two consecutive explosions, and others a large fire. The channel claimed that Ukraine used Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles to strike the headquarters of Russia’s 8th Combined Arms Army, located at the Donetsk Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals (DonIsSM). The Dnipro-based outlet Harbuz also attributed the attack to Storm Shadow missiles.
Some Ukrainian sources, including the Telegram page Kiberboroshno, alleged that the facility was involved in Russian drone and electronic warfare systems development. Russian channels attempted to downplay the strike by claiming no military personnel had been stationed in the building recently.
One video captured the immediate aftermath, showing several floors collapsed down to the basement. On-site rescuers speaking to people filming — presumed to be from Russia’s FSB security agency — described the scene using Russian military casualty codes — “300” for wounded and “200” for dead — confirming the presence of both.
Supernova+ commented that “the building was hit down to the basement… they’re carrying out ‘200s’ in packs.”
Meanwhile, local propaganda outlets confirmed the city had been targeted by Storm Shadow missiles and reported additional fires at the Sokol market. Unconfirmed reports suggested hits also occurred at a metallurgical plant and in the railway zone.
One of the Supernova-shared videos shows multiple strikes in Yasynuvata, Donetsk’s northern suburb, hosting a railway hub and multiple industrial facilities.
Drone strikes in Crimea knock out air defense and fighter jet
Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) released exclusive footage showing its UJ-26 Bober drones targeting Russian military systems in occupied Crimea. The video captures strikes on several key air defense assets, including the Pantsir-S1 SAM system, Niobiy-SV radar, Pechora-3 coastal radar, and Protivnik-GE radar. A Russian Su-30 fighter jet was also damaged or destroyed on the runway at the Saky airbase.
HUR commented:
“Reliable weapons in the hands of Ukrainian special forces are turning the enemy’s critical military assets into worthless junk.”
The attacks reflect a broader Ukrainian strategy of targeting critical Russian military and logistical infrastructure in occupied territories amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.