KYIV, Ukraine – Ukrainian drones struck a major Russian fuel facility for the second time in just over a week on Sunday, according to a senior Russian regional official, as part of a “major” cross-border attack on fuel and energy facilities. Kyiv allegedly supplied Moscow's weapons.
The strikes came days after Russia launched massive attacks on Ukraine's already battered power grid, threatening to plunge thousands of homes into darkness during the winter tightening its grip on the region, and how Russia attacked its neighbor near the three-year mark.
A fire broke out at the Stalnoy Kon oil plant in Russia's southern Oryol region, Gov.
Independent Russian news outlet Astra shared video of what it said was an explosion at the site, showing a large orange fire lighting up the night sky. Although the clip could not be independently verified, it was later shared by a Ukrainian security official who described it as footage from Oryol.
The official, Andriy Kovalenko from the National Security and Defense Council, said that the Oryol fuel depot supplies Russian forces fighting in Ukraine and southern Russia, including the Kursk region. where Ukrainian soldiers dug in after a lightning attack in August.
According to Klychkov, the local governor of Russia, the fire was extinguished a few hours later and did not cause “major” injuries or damage.
Ukraine's military previously said it struck the Stalnoy Kon terminal with drones on December 14, causing a “powerful” fire.
Other key war-related developments from Ukraine and Russia:
– Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday vowed revenge after Ukrainian drones the day before hit residential buildings in the city of Kazan, in the Tatarstan region more than 600 miles from the front line. Speaking to Tatarstan regional governor Rustam Minnikhanov, Putin said that anyone who attacks Russia must believe that Moscow has done “many times more damage” in the past, but did not elaborate. . His comments were carried by Russian state news agencies.
Minnikhanov's press service said on Saturday that eight drones attacked Kazan. Local authorities said there were no casualties.
– A 30-year-old man died on the spot Sunday in southern Ukraine's Kherson region after a Russian drone dropped explosives nearby, Gov. A few hours earlier, Prokudin said that two more civilians died as a result of Russian drone strikes on the province late Saturday. A man in his late 40s was fatally injured in a drone explosion, and a woman was found dead under debris after another drone crashed into her house.
– In the Kharkiv region in the northeast, a Russian drone on Sunday seriously injured a 56-year-old man while he was walking down a road in the city of Kupiansk, said Gov. local Oleh Syniehubov. He said the man had to have at least one limb amputated as a result, but did not provide further details.
– In the Kyiv suburb of Brovary, debris from a Russian drone started a fire late Saturday on the top of a 25-story tower block, according to regional Governor Ruslan Kravchenko. There were no immediate reports of any injuries.
– According to the Air Force of Ukraine, Russia launched 103 Iranian-made Shahed drones at its neighbor overnight to Sunday. Ukraine's air defense shot down 52 of the drones while another 44 failed to reach their targets, the force said in a statement, in a possible reference to electronic jamming.
– At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Sunday that its forces had intercepted 42 Ukrainian drones that were launched overnight at Russian territory. According to the ministry, 20 of these were over the Oryol region, where the local governor said that fire was tearing through the oil center.
– Russian forces have continued to advance in northeastern Ukraine, as well as making gains near the eastern town of Kurakhove. On Sunday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its troops had captured two northeastern settlements: Lozova in the Kharkiv region and Krasne in the Luhansk region. There was no immediate confirmation from Kyiv.
