Ukraine Strikes Iskander-M Repair Base in Russia's Kursk Oblast

Ukrainian forces struck a repair base for Iskander-M missile systems in Russia's Kursk Oblast, a radar station in Bryansk Oblast, and multiple Russian logistics and troop targets in occupied Ukrainian regions on 12-13 October. [1]

Ukrainian strikes hit Russian missile repair base and radar

Units from Ukraine's defence forces struck a number of Russian military targets on 12 October and on the night of 12-13 October, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. [1] A repair base for self-propelled launchers and transporter-loader vehicles belonging to the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system was struck near Kondrinka in Russia's Kursk Oblast. [1] In addition, the General Staff reported that a Russian radar station was hit near the settlement of Shkryabino in Russia's Bryansk Oblast. [1] These strikes formed part of a broader series of operations targeting Russian military infrastructure inside Russia proper during that period. [1]

Logistics and ammunition depots targeted in occupied Luhansk

Russian logistics facilities were also struck in the temporarily occupied part of Luhansk Oblast. [1] A fuel and lubricants depot was hit near Dovzhansk, while an ammunition depot was struck near Rubizhne. [1] The General Staff described these actions as direct hits on supply points supporting Russian forces in the occupied regions. [1] Such targeting of depots aligns with ongoing Ukrainian efforts to disrupt Russian sustainment capabilities in areas under temporary occupation. [1]

Troop concentrations struck across Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk

Ukrainian forces also targeted clusters of Russian military personnel. [1] Russian troop concentrations were struck near Selydove, Rozdilne, Suzhenka and Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast, Naberezhne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Kuzemivka in Luhansk Oblast. [1] The General Staff listed these locations as sites where Ukrainian strikes affected Russian personnel groupings on 12 October and the night of 12-13 October. [1] These operations occurred alongside the hits on logistics facilities and infrastructure inside Russia. [1]

Yandex data centre strikes disrupt Russian online traffic and bot activity

Ukraine struck three Yandex data centers last week, including one near Moscow on Sunday, one in Sasovo on Thursday and one in Kaluga on Friday. [5] Traffic from Russia's Yandex network to Estonian websites has fallen nearly 100 percent following these strikes. [5] The Information System Authority (RIA) says average requests from Yandex fell roughly 420 times by October 13 compared with September's average. [5] RIA puts the overall drop in Yandex traffic to Estonian sites at 99.8 percent. [5] Zelensky stated that Russian bot activity appeared to have declined following the attacks, noting “less hate, less division” on social media. [2] Yandex was forced to suspend operations at the data center near Moscow on Sunday after the facility was damaged in a Ukrainian drone strike. [5] Foreign media has reported that the strikes on Yandex also dealt a blow to the Kremlin's online influence operations, including via bot activity in English. [5] RIA says, however, that it is too early to assess possible changes in the activity of cyberattacks carried out by Russia. [5]

Zelensky reports continued Russian energy infrastructure attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least six energy targets were hit on Monday, including a gas facility and a petrol station, after earlier strikes on power plants in Kyiv and Kharkiv. [4] It is increasingly evident that Russia is unwilling to accept an energy ceasefire proposed by the United States, Zelensky stated. [4] The European Union has given a cautious welcome to the prospect of an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, as winter approaches and renewed Russian strikes put fresh pressure on the country’s power network. [4] EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas struck a cautious note on Monday, saying Brussels wanted to see clear evidence that Moscow intended to respect the proposed halt to attacks on energy infrastructure announced by US President Donald Trump. [4] “We welcome the energy ceasefire when it holds,” Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers. [4] “We haven’t yet seen that also Russia will stick to it.” [4] Those doubts deepened through the day as Ukraine said Russia had continued to strike energy sites, while the Kremlin stopped short of confirming that any ceasefire had been agreed. [4]

What to watch next: EU foreign ministers are set to monitor whether the proposed energy ceasefire produces a verifiable pause in Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, while Estonian authorities continue tracking any further shifts in Yandex-related network traffic and bot activity following the data centre strikes.

Further Reading

• Ukraine War Map