ISW: Recent attack on several Russian cities was a Ukraine’s military intelligence’s special operation

Overnight on 25-26 November large-scale drone attack on targets in Russia was a Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) special operation, ISW reported, citing the Ukrainian outlet Suspilne. Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that Russian air defences shot down 24 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions, including Moscow, Tula, Kaluga, Bryansk and Smolensk overnight on 25-26 November. Tula Oblast Governor Alexei Dyumin stated that one drone crashed into an apartment building in Tula City after Russian air defenses shot it down. On 26 November, Mayor Sobyanin reported that the drones, en route to Moscow, were neutralized in the vicinity of Naro-Fominsk and Odintsovo municipal districts in the Moscow region. In addition, ISW reported, citing Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) Head Denis Pushilin, that Ukrainian forces conducted an artillery and HIMARS strike on power distribution substations in Russia-occupied Donetsk Oblast overnight on 25-26 November. The strike resulted in causing electricity outages in many settlements and cities, including Donetsk City, Mariupol, and Manhush. The Institute for the Study of War also reported that Russian forces conducted a series of Shahed drone strikes on Ukraine on the night of 25-26 November. According to Ukrainian military officials, Russia launched nine Shahed-136/131 from Primorsko-Akhtarsk direction and Ukrainian air defences shot down eight drones. Other takeaways from the ISW report:

• Russian forces conducted a series of Shahed drone strikes on Ukraine on the night of 25-26 November.
• Russian forces reportedly complained about the vulnerability of Russian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) in the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast amid continued complaints about weak Russian capabilities on the east bank.
• Russia continues to face skilled and unskilled labour shortages amid inconsistent and contradictory Kremlin policies that disincentivize Russians who fled Russia and migrant workers from working in Russia while simultaneously trying to increase Russian industrial capacity and force generation.

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