Four oil tanks caught fire at the depot near Klintsy. Image: RUSSIAN EMERGENCIES MINISTRY
Russian oil depot destroyed by Ukrainian drone attack.
The incident in southern Russia involving a fire at an oil storage depot occurred after officials reported that a Ukrainian drone had targeted the facility.
According to Russian media, the attack resulted in four oil tanks catching fire, with the blaze spreading across an area of 1,000 square meters (10,763 square feet).
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as confirmed by Russian authorities in the Bryansk region.
The Bryansk governor provided additional details, stating that the Ukrainian drone was intercepted near the town of Klintsy.
Subsequently, the explosives carried by the drone fell onto the oil depot, igniting the fire. This drone strike on the oil facilities represents the second such incident within a span of two days.
The preceding day saw an unprecedented attack on a major oil loading terminal in St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city.
Initial reports from Russia indicated that the drone responsible for the attack on St Petersburg was successfully shot down, causing no damage.
However, there were indications from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, that this attack, occurring significantly far from the Ukrainian border, marked a new phase in strategy.
Ukraine’s Strategic Industries Minister, Oleksandr Kamyshin, confirmed the Ukrainian involvement in the drone strike on the southern Russian oil storage depot.
He stated that the drone traveled an impressive distance of 1,250 kilometers (776 miles) to reach its target.
This development raises concerns about the evolving nature of the conflict and suggests a potential shift in tactics by the Ukrainian forces.
The attacks on Russian oil facilities, especially in major cities like St Petersburg, indicate an expansion of the conflict beyond the immediate border regions, adding a new dimension to the ongoing hostilities between Ukraine and Russia.