by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukraine intensified its long-range drone campaign against Russian-occupied Crimea and other targets Wednesday while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced mounting political pressure at home over a sweeping military leadership shake-up that has triggered nationwide protests.
Ukrainian officials said drones struck numerous energy facilities in Crimea and beyond as part of Kyiv’s strategy to disrupt Russian logistics and weaken Moscow’s ability to sustain its war effort.
Ukrainian drone commander Robert Brovdi said forces had struck 13 power facilities over two days, describing the operation as a “circuit breaker” for the occupied peninsula.
He added that Ukraine had now targeted 117 Russian energy infrastructure sites this month, including several electrical substations.
Ukraine also claimed additional overnight drone strikes on warehouses belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries in southern Russia, with large fires reported in the Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk regions.
CRIMEA DRONE OFFENSIVE
The strikes are part of a broader Ukrainian campaign aimed at increasing pressure on Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 and has since used as a major military hub for operations against Ukraine.
In recent months, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly targeted fuel depots, ammunition facilities, military infrastructure, and transport routes across Crimea, contributing to reported supply disruptions.
“We will stand firm. Moscow will fall. We will nurture and rebuild Crimea,” Brovdi declared.
Separately, U.S. General Dan Caine told a Senate hearing that Ukraine had achieved the first known air-to-air victory by one of its Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets.
“Recently, we had the first air-to-air kill where a Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Russian fighter,” Caine said, crediting Ukraine’s increasingly sophisticated layered air defenses developed with Western assistance.
FIRST F-16 AIR VICTORY
Asked who he wanted to prevail in the war, Caine replied: “I want Ukraine to win.”
The battlefield developments came as Zelenskyy sought to contain a growing political crisis following his dismissal of Ukraine’s armed forces chief, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, after days of public protests.
Syrskyi was replaced by Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, who has been tasked with intensifying offensive operations and accelerating military modernization.
The leadership reshuffle, however, has failed to end public unrest.
Campaigners have vowed to continue nationwide demonstrations until former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is reinstated.
PROTESTS CONTINUE
Fedorov, who reportedly rejected an offer to become deputy prime minister for technological development, is said to insist that only returning as defense minister would allow him to implement his plans to modernize Ukraine’s armed forces.
His dismissal last week followed an apparent clash between the 35-year-old technology-focused reformer and the more traditional Soviet-trained military leadership headed by Syrskyi.
One senior military source described Zelenskyy’s position as politically difficult.
“If he reverses his decision, this would be a big victory for Fedorov. It would be humiliating for the president and reveal him to be weak. But if he doesn’t, the protests will keep going,” the source was quoted as saying.
Despite the political turmoil, Drapatyi said Zelenskyy had instructed him to intensify offensive operations across all domains, including planning strikes behind enemy lines, expanding the use of new technologies, and strengthening Ukraine’s military capabilities.
MILITARY SHAKE-UP
Former President Petro Poroshenko welcomed Drapatyi’s appointment, describing him as “a strategically minded, brave, and decisive man” who enjoys the confidence of many within the armed forces.
Outgoing commander Syrskyi defended his record, saying Ukraine had recaptured about 270 square miles (700 square kilometers) of territory this year and had established what he described as the world’s first dedicated drone branch within the armed forces.
“I am handing over to my successor an army that is not only holding the defense but is also on the offensive,” Syrskyi said.
His remarks came as diplomatic efforts to end the war showed little sign of progress.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio were expected to meet Thursday, with Rubio saying he would discuss whether Washington could play “a constructive role” in future peace negotiations.
PEACE EFFORTS STALLED
President Zelenskyy also held talks with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner ahead of the planned meeting.
However, hopes for a negotiated settlement appeared to diminish after reports that Russia has abandoned plans to return any occupied Ukrainian territory as part of a future peace agreement.
The Kremlin also dismissed suggestions that Ukraine’s military leadership changes would significantly alter conditions on the battlefield, saying Moscow intends to continue its full-scale offensive.
Yet Drapatyi’s appointment has been welcomed by several senior Ukrainian military figures, while Russian military bloggers acknowledged that the new commander is regarded as a capable and determined opponent.
The developments suggested that, despite renewed diplomatic efforts and changes in military leadership, both Kyiv and Moscow remain focused on making gains on the battlefield, with the fighting likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
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