Donald Trump's efforts to get Vladimir Putin to agree to a 30-day ceasefire ended in failure. On the another hand, the Kremlin seems curious in halting attacks on energy infrastructure as it is suffering the biggest losses in this sector.
Ukraine in turn successfully tested its first long-range maneuvering missile. Last Friday, Neptune hit an oil refinery in Tuapse, about 1,000 km from the front line.
A good hit caused a fire that took 3 days to put out. This spectacular attack is just a preview of Kiev's fresh capabilities. Long Neptune introduces Kiev to a very narrow group of manufacturers of maneuvering missiles.
Putin’s Achilles’ Friday
“ After the attack of the Kiev regime, on the night of March 14, a tank containing about 20,000 tons of petrol caught fire in the oil warehouse,” stated Krasnodar politician Veniamin Kondratiev in a message on Monday announcing the 4th degree of danger.
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenski issued a message saying: "We are satisfied with the results of Long Neptune".
Attacks on refineries are a major threat to the Russian oil manufacture — a key origin of export income, keeping the Russian economy on the surface.
"In fact Putin quietly confirmed to Trump how much ours Deep attacks in Russia are damaging the Russian energy sector. That's our asset.“ On Tuesday, Ukrainian MP Roman Łozinski stated on Facebook.
Manoeuvring missiles are more effective than drones that were the weapons of Ukraine to long-range attacks on Russia. Drones fly slow and are easier to intercept, while maneuvering missiles fly at a velocity close to sound velocity and are much harder to shoot down.
Nevertheless, it should be remembered that they are not a wonderful weapon that will solve all Ukrainian problems.
“Manufacturing missiles alone will not change the course of war, even if there are many more than they are today. Russia has fired on us a lot more different missiles and we are functioning,” said Nikolay Bielieskov, a technological worker of the National Institute of strategical Studies and an elder analyst at the Kiev NGO Come Back Alive Initiatives Center.
— This does not mean, however, that we do not request to make the impact possible — both in the context of strategical defence now and in terms of future deterrence. We will carry out combined attacks with both missiles and drones," Bielieskow added.
"Ukraine has been working for years to transform Neptune into a long-range missile"
Few countries are capable of producing long-range missiles. It is simply a weapon over 500 km in scope that carries powerful warheads capable of causing extended damage.
France and the United Kingdom produce Storm Shadow/SCALP rockets. These missiles have already been handed over to Ukraine. Germany and Sweden in turn have Tauruses, which have not yet been handed over to Kiev. The future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, however, announced in the election run that he was ready to deliver this weapon to Ukraine:
The United States is talking about delivering its JASSM maneuvering missiles, but so far there are no reports of their transport to Ukraine.
Long Neptune is not the only Ukrainian long-range weapon. Last period Zelenski presented Ukrainian Peklo rocket drone (Hell) with a turbojet velocity of 700 km.
Ukraine has been working for years to transform Neptune into a long-range missile. The R-360 Neptune was originally designed as a maneuvering rocket launched from the shore into ships, carrying a 150-kg warhead with a scope of up to 300 km.
VoidWanderer / Wikimedia CommonsUkrainian Neptune rocket R-360
The structure is based on the russian antiship rocket Ch-35, but with improved range, targeting capabilities and electronics.
Immediately after Russia's invasion on a full scale over 3 years ago, Ukraine utilized Neptunes with devastating effect against the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Kiev claims that the Russian flagship cruiser Moscow was sunk in 2022 after being hit with 2 Neptune missiles. The missiles were utilized against another maritime targets, as well as Russian air defence along the Black Sea.
Ukraine was working to grow Neptune's scope and transform it into a rocket suitable for land attacks. The consequence is Neptune-MD, besides called Long (Long) Neptune. According to Ukrainian portal Military fresh weapons usage the same ground launcher as R-360, but it has a fresh guidance strategy and uses an infrared guidance strategy in the final approach to the target.
"Ukraine is presently working on expanding production"
In fresh months, these missiles have been fired at targets close the Ukrainian border. Last week's attack is Neptune's longest attack.
— New Ukrainian missile, precise impact. The scope is 1,000 kilometres. We thank our Ukrainian programmers, manufacturers and military. We are inactive working to guarantee the safety of Ukraine,” said Zelenski.
— For me, the news of the success of Long Neptune looks credible,” said Bieleskow. According to an expert, Ukraine has changed Neptune's control system, adapting coastal guidance software to attacks on land targets. “ At the same time, they have increased their scope — not impossible, just a bigger rocket and more fuel,” adds Bielieskow.
Long Neptune is simply a maneuvering missile, with all its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are production velocity and lower complexity compared to ballistic missiles. “ The disadvantage is that they fly much slower than ballistic missiles, carry smaller warheads and are easier to intercept,” Bielieskow estimates.
Ukraine is presently working on expanding production. Zelenski stated in November that Ukraine produced about 100 rounds of different types.
Romania started working with Ukraine last year to build Neptunes.
“EU backing would aid increase production and give Ukraine more freedom to act, regardless of the US,” said Bieleskow.
Drone attack on Engels
The importance of long-range strike measures in the fight against Russia is demonstrated by the latest attack on the strategical bomber base in the Russian city of Engels.
The politician of the Sarat territory Roman Busargin stated that on the night of 20 March the city of Engels was surrendered the most massive attack of Ukrainian drones since the beginning of the war. According to him, following the raid of drones at Engels military airport, where strategical aviation is stationed, in peculiar Tu-95MS and Tu-160, a fire broke out.
‘For safety reasons, due to the fire at the airport, evacuation of persons surviving close the facility is carried out. All operational services are in place," Busargin wrote on his channel on the Telegram platform.
As Astra writes on the Telegram platform, smoke floating above the airport can be seen at a distance of 10 km from the military facility. According to the Mash and Engels Online channels on the Telegram platform, Ukrainian drones besides attacked an oil warehouse in Engels. There was a fire there, too.
Fire can now destruct the fuel depot for strategical bombers. Busargin claims that the drone attack damaged around 30 buildings in the city, as well as Municipal Clinical infirmary No. 1 in Engels, 2 kindergartens and a school. Supposedly 2 people were injured. The city's authorities have decided to carry out distant activities in schools.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defence last night, air defence in Russia shot down 132 Ukrainian drones. Of these, 54 flew into the Sarat circuit. Drones were besides shot down in the Vorone region (40 pieces), the Bielgorod region (22), the Rostov region (nine), the Kursk region (three) and the July region (one). In addition, 3 drones were shot down by Russians over Crimea. Russian authorities reported that at night they imposed restrictions on the operation of airports in Saratov and Samara.
Previously, Ukraine has repeatedly conducted drone attacks on Engels Air Force Base, from which Russian bombers launch. From the beginning of 2025, drones attacked the base at least 3 times — January 9 and 14 and February 11.
