Orenburg Gas Processing Plant and Helium Facility

Ukraine's General Staff confirmed that drones struck the Gazprom-run Orenburg gas processing plant and Russia's only helium plant overnight into Wednesday, approximately 1,200 km from the front line . Local governor Yevgeny Solntsev indirectly acknowledged the attack, describing the region as having come under a "massive" drone attack . NASA fire-detection satellites recorded active fires at the site . The Orenburg plant is one of the world's largest gas processing facilities, with an annual capacity of 45 billion cubic meters . The adjacent helium plant is Russia's only facility of its kind, supplying helium for liquid-fuel rocket engines, guidance systems, and ethane for solid rocket fuel .

Satellite Communications Centers Under Attack

In a coordinated campaign against Russian military space communications infrastructure, Ukraine struck two major satellite communications centers within three days:

• Dubna Satellite Communications Center (Moscow region) — On June 22, Ukraine struck the Dubna space communications facility. Satellite imagery later confirmed damage to the main building and a 32-meter MARK-IV antenna used for military satellite links . Russia's state-operated TASS news agency reported the facility was "subjected to a significant drone attack," though it claimed television broadcasting and communications remained intact .
• Vladimir Space Communications Center (Vladimir region) — Two days later, on June 24, Ukraine's General Staff reported a second strike on the Vladimir Space Communications Center, damaging two buildings and causing a fire . The facility plays a role in "ensuring the functioning of satellite and deep-space communications systems used, in particular, in the interests of the security structures of the aggressor state," according to Ukraine's military .

Broader Campaign Context

These strikes are part of a significantly intensified Ukrainian long-range campaign that began in early June 2026. On June 3, Ukrainian forces struck a Baltic Fleet corvette (the Boikiy) in Kronstadt dry dock and an oil terminal near St. Petersburg . On June 6, they hit a naval arsenal and fuel infrastructure in the Leningrad region . The campaign has forced Russia to redeploy air defense systems to protect Moscow and the Kerch Bridge, and has disrupted Russian logistics in occupied Crimea .

Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned that further strikes will continue. On June 18, he stated: "If Ukraine is set ablaze, your Moscow will also feel the flames" . On June 4, he published an open letter warning that intelligence shows Russia is planning to extend the war into 2027–2028 .

Verification and Caveats

While the scale of the reported ammunition destruction is unprecedented, readers should note that the 60,000-tonne figure originates from Ukrainian intelligence and has not been independently confirmed by neutral third parties or Russian sources. Reuters and Associated Press reports have cited the Ukrainian claims but noted the lack of independent verification . Separately, reports from earlier in June indicated that Russian forces had withdrawn some air defense assets to protect critical infrastructure in and around Moscow and the Kerch Bridge, a development consistent with the effectiveness of Ukraine's deep-strike strategy .

Orenburg Gas Processing Plant and Helium Facility

Ukraine's General Staff confirmed that drones struck the Gazprom-run Orenburg gas processing plant and Russia's only helium plant overnight into Wednesday, approximately 1,200 km from the front line . Local governor Yevgeny Solntsev indirectly acknowledged the attack, describing the region as having come under a "massive" drone attack . NASA fire-detection satellites recorded active fires at the site . The Orenburg plant is one of the world's largest gas processing facilities, with an annual capacity of 45 billion cubic meters . The adjacent helium plant is Russia's only facility of its kind, supplying helium for liquid-fuel rocket engines, guidance systems, and ethane for solid rocket fuel .

Satellite Communications Centers Under Attack

In a coordinated campaign against Russian military space communications infrastructure, Ukraine struck two major satellite communications centers within three days:

• Dubna Satellite Communications Center (Moscow region) — On June 22, Ukraine struck the Dubna space communications facility. Satellite imagery later confirmed damage to the main building and a 32-meter MARK-IV antenna used for military satellite links . Russia's state-operated TASS news agency reported the facility was "subjected to a significant drone attack," though it claimed television broadcasting and communications remained intact .
• Vladimir Space Communications Center (Vladimir region) — Two days later, on June 24, Ukraine's General Staff reported a second strike on the Vladimir Space Communications Center, damaging two buildings and causing a fire . The facility plays a role in "ensuring the functioning of satellite and deep-space communications systems used, in particular, in the interests of the security structures of the aggressor state," according to Ukraine's military .

Broader Campaign Context

These strikes are part of a significantly intensified Ukrainian long-range campaign that began in early June 2026. On June 3, Ukrainian forces struck a Baltic Fleet corvette (the Boikiy) in Kronstadt dry dock and an oil terminal near St. Petersburg . On June 6, they hit a naval arsenal and fuel infrastructure in the Leningrad region . The campaign has forced Russia to redeploy air defense systems to protect Moscow and the Kerch Bridge, and has disrupted Russian logistics in occupied Crimea .

Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned that further strikes will continue. On June 18, he stated: "If Ukraine is set ablaze, your Moscow will also feel the flames" . On June 4, he published an open letter warning that intelligence shows Russia is planning to extend the war into 2027–2028 .

Verification and Caveats

While the scale of the reported ammunition destruction is unprecedented, readers should note that the 60,000-tonne figure originates from Ukrainian intelligence and has not been independently confirmed by neutral third parties or Russian sources. Reuters and Associated Press reports have cited the Ukrainian claims but noted the lack of independent verification . Separately, reports from earlier in June indicated that Russian forces had withdrawn some air defense assets to protect critical infrastructure in and around Moscow and the Kerch Bridge, a development consistent with the effectiveness of Ukraine's deep-strike strategy .