Ukrainian forces successfully targeted an oil refinery in Kstovo, Russia, marking the second drone strike on such a facility within a week. The refinery, operated by the Lukoil company, suffered substantial damage as four drones struck its depot, according to Ukrainian media reports. The attack took place approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
Videos circulating on social media captured massive flames engulfing the industrial facility. While regional governor Gleb Nikitin confirmed that drone debris had fallen in the industrial zone, he reported no casualties at the scene.
Smolensk and Belgorod Under Attack
In a separate development, Vasily Anokhin, the governor of Russia’s Smolensk region, stated on Telegram that a “massive” drone attack targeted civilian infrastructure. He also claimed that one of the drones was intercepted before it could hit a nuclear power facility, though independent verification of this claim remains unavailable.
Meanwhile, in Belgorod, a border region that has been frequently targeted since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, a tragic incident resulted in the deaths of a mother and her toddler. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that another child and his father sustained injuries during the strike.
Waves of Drone Attacks Disrupt Russian Airspace
The strikes on Kstovo, Smolensk, and Belgorod formed part of a broader overnight operation by Ukraine. Russian authorities claimed that over 100 Ukrainian drones were intercepted, forcing airports in St. Petersburg and Kazan to suspend operations overnight.
This marks one of the largest drone assaults by Ukraine in the ongoing war. Just last Friday, Ukraine executed a similar operation, striking another oil refinery and launching a wave of at least 121 drones towards Moscow.
Russia Responds with Counterattacks
In response, Moscow carried out its own aerial offensive overnight, triggering air raid alerts across multiple Ukrainian regions. The Ukrainian military reported successfully shooting down 29 Russian drones over nine regions.
As the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches, the conflict remains relentless. Russia continues to make incremental advances in eastern Ukraine, particularly towards the strategic city of Pokrovsk, a critical logistics hub for Ukrainian forces. However, Ukrainian troops have maintained control over hundreds of square kilometers in Russia’s western Kursk region, where they launched a surprise offensive last August.
The intensification of drone warfare underscores the shifting dynamics of the conflict, with both nations leveraging advanced aerial technologies to disrupt critical infrastructure and gain strategic advantages.
