KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian drones struck a major Russian fuel depot on Sunday for the second time in just over a week, according to a senior Russian regional official, as part of a “massive” cross-border attack on fuel and energy facilities that Kiev says they supply the Moscow army.
The attacks came days after Russia launched sweeping assaults on Ukraine’s already battered energy network, threatening to plunge thousands of homes into darkness as winter tightens its grip on the region and Russia’s invasion of its neighbor nears the three-year mark.
A fire broke out at the Stalnoy Kon oil terminal in Russia’s southern Oryol region, local governor Andrey Klychkov said in a message on messaging app Telegram, adding that Russian forces had downed 20 drones targeting “fuel and energy” infrastructure” in the province.
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Russian independent news channel Astra shared a video of what it said was an explosion at the site, with a huge orange glow 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.
According to Klychkov, the local governor, the fire was extinguished hours later and caused no casualties or “significant” damage.
The Ukrainian military previously claimed to have attacked the Stalnoy Kon terminal with drones on December 14, sparking a “powerful” fire.
Other important war-related developments in Ukraine and Russia:
– Two civilians were killed after Russia launched drones in Ukraine’s southern Kherson province late on Saturday, local governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. He said a man in his late 40s suffered fatal injuries after a Russian drone dropped explosives nearby. Hours later, a woman was found dead under the rubble after another drone struck her home.
– In the northeastern Kharkiv region, a Russian drone strike seriously injured a 56-year-old man on Sunday as he walked along a road in the city of Kupiansk, local governor Oleh Syniehubov said. He said the man had to have at least one limb amputated as a result, but gave no further details.
– In the Kiev suburb of Brovary, debris from a Russian drone caused a fire on the roof of a 25-storey tower block late on Saturday, regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko said. There were no immediate reports of any casualties.
Russia launched 103 Iranian-made Shahed drones at its neighboring country on Sunday night, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 52 of the drones, while another 44 failed to reach their targets, the force said in a statement, likely citing electronic jamming.
– Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that its forces had intercepted 42 Ukrainian drones launched overnight on Russian territory. According to the ministry, twenty of them were above the Oryol region, where the local governor said a fire ripped through the oil terminal.
– In addition, Russian forces have continued their advance in northeastern Ukraine, in addition to making gains near the eastern city of Kurakhove. On Sunday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces had captured two northeastern settlements: Lozova in the Kharkiv region and Krasne in Luhansk province. There was no immediate confirmation from Kiev.
