Russian forces conducted a large-scale series of drone and missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of March 13 to 14 that caused significant civilian casualties in Kyiv City. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched two Zirkon hypersonic cruise missiles from occupied Crimea; 13 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles from Bryansk Oblast; 25 Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black and Caspian seas; 24 Kh-101 cruise missiles from Vologda Oblast; and four Kh-59/69 cruise missiles from Kursk Oblast and unspecified areas of occupied Donetsk Oblast.[1] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 430 Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types of strike drones, of which about 250 were Shaheds, from the directions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Oryol cities; Millerovo, Rostov Oblast; Shatalovo, Smolensk Oblast; Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai; and occupied Hvardiiske and Cape Chauda, Crimea. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed 402 drones, one Zirkon hypersonic cruise missile, seven Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, 25 Kalibr cruise missiles, 24 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and one Kh-59/69 cruise missile. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that six missiles and 28 strike drones struck 11 locations and that drone debris impacted seven locations. Russian forces most recently used Zirkon, Iskander-M, and Kalibr missiles in the March 6 to 7 large-scale strikes on Ukraine.[2] ISW has consistently assessed that Russian forces will withhold from launching missiles in strike packages to stockpile such munitions and increase the devastation of future strike packages.[3]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on March 14 that the strikes impacted Kyiv City and Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv oblasts.[4] Zelensky noted that Russian forces targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv Oblast but that they also struck residential and educational infrastructure. Ukrainian energy officials reported on March 14 that the strikes disrupted power in Kyiv City and Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.[5] Ukrainian officials reported that the strikes destroyed civilian, transportation, and agricultural infrastructure in Kharkiv Oblast.[6]
Kyiv Oblast Military Administration Head Mykola Kalashnyk reported on March 14 that the strikes killed at least five people and injured at least 22 people.[7] Kalashnyk reported that the strikes damaged residential infrastructure facilities, warehouse facilities, and vehicles and that the strikes left thousands without power and heating.[8]
Ukrainian forces continued long-range strikes against Russian military and oil infrastructure overnight on March 13 to 14. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces struck the Afipsky Oil Refinery and the port of Kavkaz in Krasnodar Krai overnight on March 13-14.[9] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the strikes caused a fire at the Afipsky Oil Refinery and damaged port infrastructure at Kavkaz. Geolocated footage published on March 14 shows a fire at the refinery, and a Ukrainian open-source intelligence project assessed that the strikes destroyed the main refining unit at the refinery.[10] Russian sources claimed that the strikes damaged a berthing system at the Kavkaz port.[11] Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported that it struck the Slavyanin railway ferry and Avangard, likely referring to the Avangard cargo ship, which had been ferrying Russian logistics across the Kerch Strait.[12] The GUR stated that the strikes rendered the Slavyanin inoperable and damaged the Avangard. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces also struck the Khanskaya Airfield at Maykop Airbase, Republic of Adygea.[13] The Khanskaya Airfield reportedly houses the Russian 272nd Training Aviation Base and can accommodate aircraft, including Tu-134 short-range airliners, An-12 transport aircraft, and Il-18 airliners.[14] Geolocated footage published on March 14 additionally shows an explosion in Tolyatti, Samara Oblast, reportedly near the KuybyshevAzot chemical plant.[15] The cause of the explosion is currently unclear. Ukrainian forces struck the KuybyshevAzot chemical plant overnight on March 10 to 11.[16]
Ukrainian forces are intensifying their mid-range strike campaign, increasing their ability to contest Russian missile strikes, degrade Russian air defenses, and disrupt offensive operations ahead of an expected Russian spring-summer 2026 offensive. Ukrainian forces struck a variety of mid-range Russian military targets in Russia and occupied Ukraine overnight on March 13 to 14. Mid-range strikes are typically at an operational depth (about 20 to 120 kilometers from the frontline), though Ukrainian forces also conducted similar strikes deeper into Russian-held areas.[17] The Ukrainian General Staff and SSO reported that Ukrainian forces struck an Iskander-M ballistic missile launcher that had been preparing to launch missiles at Ukraine from occupied Vyshneve, Crimea (roughly 209 kilometers from the frontline), and an Iskander missile launcher storage warehouse near occupied Kurotne, Crimea (roughly 217 kilometers from the frontline), and geolocated footage confirmed the strikes.[18] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces also struck a Russian Nebo-U radar station near occupied Hvardiiske, Crimea (roughly 198 kilometers from the frontline), and geolocated footage confirmed the strike.[19] A Ukrainian unmanned systems brigade reported on March 13 that its drone operators struck five Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense systems in the Belgorod direction, and geolocated footage shows a strike on a Pantsir in eastern Belgorod City (roughly 30 kilometers from the frontline).[20] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces also struck an S-300 air defense missile depot near occupied Sadove, Donetsk Oblast (one of multiple settlements between 80 to 85 kilometers from the frontline); a Russian Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) command post near Vulehirsk (roughly 40 kilometers from the frontline); and command and observation posts in Hrafske and Kermenchyk raions.[21] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces also struck a Russian repair center and warehouse near occupied Andriivka, Zaporizhia Oblast (one of multiple settlements between 75 and 125 kilometers from the frontline), a force concentration near Novomykolaivka, Zaporizhia Oblast (one of multiple settlements between 50 and 80 kilometers from the frontline), and a materiel and equipment warehouse near Berdyansk (roughly 100 kilometers from the frontline).[22] A Ukrainian unmanned systems regiment reported that it struck two Russian trains conducting logistics in occupied Zaporizhia Oblast on March 12, disabling the trains, and geolocated footage confirms that Ukrainian forces struck two trains east and southwest of occupied Tokmak (roughly 28 kilometers from the frontline).[23]
Ukrainian forces have been intensifying their mid-range strike campaign against Russian logistics, military equipment, and manpower, which will also likely interfere with the expected spring-summer Russian offensive.[24] These strikes have largely targeted Russian forces and assets in eastern and southern Ukraine, where Russian forces have been prioritizing offensive operations in recent weeks.[25] Ukrainian forces have also begun more intensively targeting Russian multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) in the Slovyansk and Kostyantynivka directions, which will likely degrade Russia’s ability to conduct artillery preparation of the battlefield ahead of any planned ground operations in these directions.[26]
Key Takeaways
- Russian forces conducted a large-scale series of drone and missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of March 13 to 14 that caused significant civilian casualties in Kyiv City.
- Ukrainian forces continued long-range strikes against Russian military and oil infrastructure overnight on March 13 to 14.
- Ukrainian forces are intensifying their mid-range strike campaign, increasing their ability to contest Russian missile strikes, degrade Russian air defenses, and disrupt offensive operations ahead of an expected Russian spring-summer 2026 offensive.
- Ukrainian forces maintained positions or recently advanced near Slovyansk.