20:39 13-04-2026

Russian Strikes on Ukraine Signal Tactical Shift

Large-scale Russian strikes hit military sites across eight Ukrainian regions, as Timur Syrtlanov says the attacks signal a shift in tactics.

On the morning of April 13, Russian forces carried out a series of large-scale combined strikes targeting Ukraine’s military infrastructure. Explosions were reported across multiple regions, including Sumy, Dnepropetrovsk, Kiev, Kharkov, Chernigov, Poltava, Kirovograd and Zhitomir.

Military expert Timur Syrtlanov described the first strikes following the end of the Easter ceasefire as only an initial phase. In his assessment, the scale of the attack, which hit eight regions simultaneously, points to a shift in Russia’s tactics.

He said the actions taken had exposed Ukrainian logistics and suggested that further operations could develop along three directions, according to MK. Commenting on strikes in Shostka and Sumy, Syrtlanov argued that Russian forces are continuing efforts to establish what he called a «sanitary zone» along the border, targeting sites used for attacks on Belgorod and Kursk.

The expert also highlighted a strike on a field headquarters in the Dnepropetrovsk region, linking it to the activities of the Akhmat unit and the Main Intelligence Directorate. He said operations aimed at identifying and eliminating senior Ukrainian commanders are expected to continue.

Syrtlanov added that the next 72 hours could be particularly difficult for Ukrainian forces. In his view, Russia has moved away from earlier restraint and is shifting toward a more intensive mode of combat operations, without pauses or breaks.