Russian independent news outlet Astra shared video of what it said was an explosion at the site, showing a massive orange blaze lighting up the night sky.
Ukrainian drones have hit a major Russian fuel depot 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 Kyiv says supply Moscow’s military.
A fire broke out at the Stalnoi Kon oil terminal in Russia’s southern Oryol region, local Governor Andrey Klychkov said in a post on Telegram, adding that Russian forces downed 20 drones targeting “fuel and energy infrastructure” in the province.
Russian independent news outlet Astra shared video of what it said was an explosion at the site, showing a massive orange blaze lighting up the night sky.
While the clip could not be independently verified, it was later shared by a Ukrainian security official who described it as footage from Oryol.
The official, Andriy Kovalenko of the Council of National Security and Defence, claimed the Oryol fuel depot supplies Russian forces fighting in Ukraine and southern Russia, including the Kursk province where Ukrainian troops have dug in following a lightning incursion in August.
According to Klychkov, the Russian local governor, the fire was extinguished hours later and did not cause casualties or “significant” damage.
Ukraine’s military previously claimed to have struck the Stalnoi Kon terminal with drones on 14 December, sparking a “powerful” blaze.
The strikes come just days after Russia launched sweeping attacks on Ukraine’s already battered energy grid, threatening to plunge thousands of homes into darkness as winter tightens its grip over the region and as the Russian invasion of Ukraine nears the three-year mark.
Meanwhile, on Sunday Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed retaliation after Ukrainian drones struck residential buildings in the city of Kazan on Saturday.
Speaking to Tatarstan’s regional governor, Rustam Minnikhanov, Putin asserted that anyone attacking Russia has to reckon with Moscow inflicting “many times greater damage” in return, but did not elaborate.
Minnikhanov’s press service on Saturday said that eight drones attacked Kazan. Local authorities said there were no casualties.