The Russian military intercepted at least 25 hostile targets over seven regions overnight, but at least one Ukrainian drone crashed into an oil facility in the western city of Oryol early Tuesday morning. Several more UAVs targeted a refinery on the outskirts of Nizhny Novgorod.
The attack in Oryol targeted a “fuel and energy complex facility” in the city around 350km south of Moscow, Governor Andrey Klychkov announced in a statement at 3:30am local time. There were no casualties or injuries on the ground, according to the official.
One oil tank caught fire as a result of the strike, an emergency services source told RIA Novosti. Photos and videos circulating on social media show fire and smoke rising from the facility, apparently visible from several kilometers away. Klychkov said firefighters are working to contain the blaze, adding that the situation is under control and urging residents to remain calm.
Several hours later, yet another attack by unmanned aerial vehicles targeted a fuel and energy complex in the Kstovskaya industrial zone outside Nizhny Novgorod, around 400km east of Moscow, according to Governor Gleb Nikitin. That attack also caused no injuries, according to the official.
More Ukrainian drones were intercepted over other Russian regions overnight, according to the authorities in Kursk and Belgorod. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin also said at least one UAV was shot down en route to the Russian capital.
In total, the Russian military intercepted at least 25 hostile drones over seven regions overnight, the Defense Ministry said in a brief statement, calling the coordinated raid an attempted “terrorist attack.”
This is not the first time oil facilities in Russia have come under Ukrainian attacks. In January, a similar drone raid in Oryol caused a fire and injured three people. Last week, another Ukrainian drone hit an oil depot in the border region of Kursk.
Ukraine routinely launches artillery, missile, and drone strikes at Russian border regions, many of which have targeted residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. One of the deadliest attacks hit Belgorod in late December, killing 25 people and injuring more than 100.