Ukrainian drones targeted a significant Russian fuel depot for the second time in just over a week on Sunday, as part of a widespread cross-border attack on fuel and energy facilities that Kyiv alleges supply Moscow’s military. The strikes occurred following Russia’s recent assaults on Ukraine’s already vulnerable energy grid, posing a threat to leaving numerous homes without power as winter intensifies its grip on the region, amidst Russia’s ongoing invasion of its neighboring country approaching the three-year mark.
A fire erupted at the Stalnoy Kon oil terminal in Russia’s southern Oryol region, as confirmed by local Governor Andrey Klychkov in a post on the Telegram messaging app. Klychkov stated that Russian forces had successfully intercepted 20 drones targeting “fuel and energy infrastructure” in the province.
Astra, a Russian independent news outlet, shared video footage depicting an explosion at the Stalnoy Kon terminal, featuring a large orange blaze illuminating the night sky. Although the authenticity of the clip could not be independently verified, a Ukrainian security official later shared it, affirming it as footage from Oryol. According to Klychkov, the fire was eventually extinguished without causing any casualties or notable damage.
Previously, Ukraine’s military had claimed responsibility for a drone strike on the Stalnoy Kon terminal on December 14, resulting in a substantial blaze.
Other significant developments related to the conflict in Ukraine and Russia include:
– Two civilians lost their lives following a late-night drone attack by Russia in Ukraine’s southern Kherson province on Saturday, as reported by local Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. One victim, a man in his late 40s, sustained fatal injuries from explosives dropped by a Russian drone nearby. Subsequently, a woman was discovered dead under debris after another drone struck her residence.
– In the northeastern Kharkiv region, a Russian drone strike on Sunday gravely wounded a 56-year-old man as he traversed a road in the city of Kupiansk, according to local Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Syniehubov disclosed that the man faced the prospect of at least one limb amputation due to his injuries, without providing further details.
– Debris from a Russian drone ignited a fire on the roof of a 25-story tower block in the Kyiv suburb of Brovary late on Saturday, announced regional Governor Ruslan Kravchenko. No casualties were immediately reported.
– Ukraine’s Air Force indicated that Russia unleashed 103 Iranian-made Shahed drones at its neighbor overnight into Sunday. The Air Force successfully downed 52 drones, with 44 failing to reach their intended targets, potentially due to electronic interference.
– Simultaneously, Russia’s Defense Ministry disclosed that its forces intercepted 42 Ukrainian drones launched at Russian territory overnight. Of these, 20 were detected over the Oryol region, where the oil terminal fire occurred, as mentioned by the local governor.
