Can strikes deep within Russia reduce the massive shelling of Ukraine? Experts provide their insights.

The aircraft that Russia uses to launch missile strikes on Ukrainian territory are stationed at quite a distance. Therefore, strikes deep into Russia won't eliminate the shelling of Ukraine.

This is stated in the material from RBK-Ukraine - "Kremlin Tactics: What Targets Russians Hit and Can Ukraine 'Ground' Russian Planes."

According to military expert Alexey Hetman, Ukraine can continue to strike oil refineries and chemical plants that produce missile fuel. However, it's impossible to ensure that planes in Russia cannot take off at all.

"Russia is a gas station country, and it will be difficult for us to destroy everything. They have their own oil. We can destroy everything, but they will pump it and produce again," Hetman said.

This is linked to the fact that the planes from which Russians strike Ukrainian territories are mostly based at the airfields "Olenya," "Engels," "Dyagilevo," "Shaikovka," "Savasleyka," "Akhtubinsk," and "Mozdok." Strategic bombers are located at the "Olenya" airfield, which is technically difficult to reach. A portion of the Tu-22 bombers is stationed at "Dyagilevo," which we can reach, but there are very few of them.

"Dyagilevo has the infrastructure to service all types of strategic bombers, but it's minimal because it's a training center. However, they can service a few Tu-22s—one squadron," said aviation expert Valery Romanenko.

Ukraine may attempt to limit the fuel supply for Tu-160 aircraft by striking Engels, but these planes are rarely used by the Russians for attacks.

The editor-in-chief of Defence Express, Oleg Katkov, noted that the "Crystal Plant" is located at Engels. It belongs to the state strategic reserve, where fuel for Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft is stored. Ukrainian forces recently attacked the base, and likely, strikes will continue. However, he believes this will not reduce the attacks on Ukraine but will create certain difficulties for the Russians.

"The destruction of this oil base will certainly complicate the operation of this airfield, but it won't make it impossible. The enemy will spend additional resources on this. There was also a specific type of fuel, T-8B, which is necessary for the Tu-160, being its only consumers. The possible destruction of part of this fuel stock could lead to a decrease in Tu-160 activity, but they were already used sparingly by the enemy for strikes on Ukraine," Katkov noted in a comment to RBK-Ukraine.

Strikes on Russia

Ukrainian military forces continue to strike at Russia's military infrastructure, particularly factories that repair and produce equipment for the army, weakening its potential. Strikes are increasingly conducted on Russian territory, complicating the operations of its defense industry.

In particular, last night, drones from the Security Service of Ukraine and Special Operations Forces attacked a number of enemy facilities involved in supporting the Russian occupation army.

Additionally, on the night of January 20, Russians complained about a drone attack on military facilities in Kazan.