Ukraine drones strike Crimea power plants and Krasnodar oil depot on war's day 1583

Ukrainian drones launched a large-scale overnight attack on June 25, targeting critical energy infrastructure in Crimea and an oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar region. Russia's Defence Ministry claimed 269 drones were shot down between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's battlefield performance at a White House press conference.

Ukrainian drones struck multiple targets across occupied Crimea and southern Russia in the early hours of June 25, marking the 1,583rd day of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

Crimea power infrastructure hit

According to the Telegram monitoring channel "Krymsky Veter," the Balaklava and Tavricheskaya thermal power stations were among the targets struck overnight. A powerful explosion was also reported near the Kacha airfield. Short-term power outages were recorded in Simferopol, Yalta, Yevpatoria and Sevastopol following the strikes, with the Ukrainian channel Exilenova+ reporting that energy infrastructure facilities in Simferopol were directly hit.

Krasnodar oil depot ablaze

A fire broke out at the Poltavskaya oil depot in the Krasnoarmeysky district of Krasnodar region after a drone attack, according to district head Alexander Kharitonov, who posted about the incident on the Max messenger app. Kharitonov claimed the blaze was caused by debris from a downed drone falling onto the facility. A road connecting the Poltavskaya stanitsa and the Trudobelikovsky farmstead was temporarily closed as a result.

The Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported that three storage tanks at the depot caught fire. The Astra channel noted that the Poltavskaya oil depot is a regional fuel infrastructure site supplying parts of Krasnodar region and the Republic of Adygea, with a tank farm of approximately 28 reservoirs.

Russia claims 269 drones downed

Russia's Ministry of Defence stated that 269 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones were "intercepted and destroyed" between 8:00 p.m. on June 24 and 7:00 a.m. on June 25. According to the ministry, drones were shot down over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Volgograd, Kaluga, Kursk, Oryol, Saratov, Smolensk, Rostov and Tula regions, as well as the Moscow region, annexed Crimea, Krasnodar region and over the Black Sea. Ukraine has significantly intensified its drone campaign since late spring, with Russia's nightly claimed intercept figures approaching 300.

Zelensky: Crimea operation "clearly worked out"

In his nightly address on June 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine's Crimea operation was "clearly worked out." He added that if Ukraine receives what was discussed at the G7 summit, it will be able to force Russia to choose peace, though he did not specify what assistance he meant. Zelensky also noted that Russia is currently redeploying air defence assets toward Moscow and the area near the Crimean Bridge, leaving other regions more exposed.

Trump praises Zelensky

At a White House press conference on June 24, attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, U.S. President Donald Trump offered a rare positive assessment of Zelensky. «At least he's holding on. A lot of people are dying on both sides, but I think he's doing pretty well,» Trump said in response to a journalist's question about whether Zelensky was winning.

The remarks represent a shift in tone from Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Zelensky in the past, including accusing him of obstructing peace efforts. At the same press conference, Trump expressed disappointment with Germany and other European countries over their stance on the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, complaining that Washington had asked Berlin to "give him at least a little kiss" but was refused, while the U.S. continues to spend "hundreds of billions of dollars" on its military presence in Europe.

Losses mount on both sides

According to Ukraine's General Staff, estimated total Russian combat losses from February 24, 2022 through June 25, 2026, stand at approximately 1,397,060 personnel, 12,057 tanks, 24,818 armoured vehicles, 44,731 artillery systems, and 371,882 tactical drones. Ukraine does not regularly publish its own casualty figures.