KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian drones targeted a significant Russian fuel depot for the second time within a week on Sunday, as per a high-ranking official in Russia’s regional administration. This operation appears to be part of a broad cross-border offensive aimed at fuel and energy infrastructures that Kyiv claims support Moscow’s military operations.
The drone strikes occurred shortly after Russia conducted extensive attacks on Ukraine’s already vulnerable energy grid. These assaults threaten to leave many homes without electricity as the region braces for the harsh winter conditions, with tensions escalating as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches its three-year anniversary.
A fire ignited at the Stalnoy Kon oil terminal located in Oryol, a southern region of Russia. Local Governor Andrey Klychkov reported via the Telegram app that Russian air defenses intercepted 20 drones targeting the area’s fuel and energy infrastructure. Independent news outlet Astra circulated footage depicting a large explosion at the terminal, creating a vivid orange glow against the night sky. Although the authenticity of the video could not be independently verified, a Ukrainian security official later confirmed it as footage from Oryol.
Andriy Kovalenko, part of the Council of National Security and Defense in Ukraine, asserted that the fuel depot plays a critical role in supplying Russian forces engaged in combat in Ukraine and southern Russia, particularly in Kursk province, where Ukrainian forces have entrenched following a swift advance in August. Klychkov further remarked that the fire was contained after several hours and did not result in any casualties or substantial damage.
Previously, Ukraine’s military had claimed responsibility for a drone attack on the Stalnoy Kon terminal on December 14, which led to a significant blaze.
In other notable updates regarding the ongoing conflict:
— Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Sunday that there would be repercussions following a Ukrainian drone strike the previous day that hit residential buildings in Kazan, a city over 600 miles from the combat zone. Addressing Tatarstan’s regional governor, Rustam Minnikhanov, Putin insisted that those assaulting Russia must expect retaliation that would inflict “many times greater damage,” although specifics were not provided. His response was reported by state-run media. On Saturday, Minnikhanov’s office noted that eight drones targeted Kazan, with local officials indicating no casualties resulted from the attack.
— Tragic incidents were reported in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, where a 30-year-old man died following a drone attack that dropped explosives nearby, as per local Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. Earlier that day, Prokudin had declared that two civilians lost their lives from drone strikes late Saturday: a man in his late 40s succumbed to injuries from a drone explosion, while a woman was found deceased under debris after her house was struck.
— In the northeast Kharkiv region, a drone strike on Sunday gravely injured a 56-year-old man in Kupiansk while he was walking down the street, according to local Governor Oleh Syniehubov. The injury was severe enough to require at least one amputation, although no further details were disclosed.
— In Brovary, a suburb of Kyiv, debris from a Russian drone caused a fire atop a residential 25-story building late Saturday, reported regional Governor Ruslan Kravchenko. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported yet.
— According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched 103 Iranian-made Shahed drones overnight into Sunday, with Ukrainian defense successfully downing 52 of them, and another 44 drones unable to reach their intended targets, likely due to electronic countermeasures.
— On the other hand, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that its forces intercepted 42 Ukrainian drones aimed at Russian territory during the overnight hours, including 20 that were over the Oryol region where the fuel depot fire occurred.
— Moreover, Russian troops continued to advance in northeastern Ukraine, reportedly capturing two settlements: Lozova in Kharkiv and Krasne in Luhansk province. There was yet to be confirmation from Ukrainian sources regarding these claims.