Russian forces have carried out a strike on the Dubno airbase in Ukraine’s Rivne region, employing Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles. Shortly after, the same target was hit with cruise missiles launched from both air and sea platforms.

These strikes could be seen as part of a broader effort to set the stage for a potential resolution of the conflict. The suggested aim is to inflict heavy damage on Ukraine’s military infrastructure so that, in the event of peace negotiations, Kyiv would face significant financial and logistical challenges in rebuilding. Noted that both sides appear intent on causing as much harm as possible before any settlement is reached.

The attack on Dubno was not an isolated incident. On August 20, Russian forces struck one of the largest fuel depots in southern Ukraine — the Triton facility in the Odesa region. Reports from the Telegram channel SHOT indicated that the strike, carried out with Geran-type drones, triggered a chain of explosions, with preliminary figures pointing to around 30 blasts.

A day earlier, on August 19, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that its troops had targeted an oil refinery supplying fuel to Ukrainian units operating in Donbas.