Drones attack seven regions in Russia: fuel depots on fire

The Russian Defense Ministry claims an attack with 25 drones, RIA Novosti reports.

"Air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 2 UAVs over the territories of Moscow region, 1 in Leningrad region, 7 in Belgorod region, 11 in Kursk region, 1 in Bryansk region, 1 in Tula region, and 2 in Oryol region," the report says.

Attack on Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh and Tula regions

The attack on the Kursk region was reported by Governor Roman Starovoit. First, he warned of a missile threat in the region. Later, he warned about the air defense system operation.

"In the sky over the Fatezsky district, the air defense system shot down a Ukrainian drone. The consequences on the ground are being clarified," he wrote at 01:26 am.

Starovoit later reported that five more Ukrainian airplane-type drones were shot down over Fatezsky, Zolotukhinsky, Kursk, Solntsevsky and Ponyrovsky districts of Kursk region. This is the fourth attack on the region overnight.The Belgorod district was also attacked by a drone that dropped four explosive devices, said the region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov. No one was injured, but a power line was damaged. Seven settlements still have no power supply.

The agency also writes that after Kursk region, Belgorod district and Oryol, Tula region was attacked on Tuesday night. The regional authorities reported the destruction of the drone by air defense forces.

Another Russian region was attacked on Tuesday night, this time the Voronezh region. Authorities reported that air defense forces destroyed one drone, with no preliminary reports of any consequences on the ground.

Attack on the Oryol region

The Baza Telegram channel reported that an oil depot was on fire in the Oryol region. According to preliminary data, the fire started due to a drone attack.

According to Baza, the fire at the oil depot started around 3 am. According to local residents, they heard the sound of an explosion before the fire started.

Several fire crews are currently working at the scene. According to the sources, there are no casualties.

"A UAV crashed in Oryol. A fuel and energy facility was attacked. Special services are working at the scene to localize the fire. There are no casualties," said the region's governor, Andrey Klychkov.

RIA Novosti, citing a representative of the emergency services of the Oryol region, reported that one tank with oil products caught fire at the oil depot in Oryol (preliminary, after a Ukrainian drone strike).

The mayor of Oryol, Yuri Parakhin, said that according to preliminary information, there were no casualties. 

"17 people from two neighboring high-rise buildings were evacuated to a temporary accommodation center," he wrote.

Attack on the Moscow region

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that a drone flying toward Moscow was destroyed in the Ramensky urban district.

"Air defense forces repelled an attack by a drone flying toward Moscow. According to preliminary data, there is no damage or casualties at the site of the crash."

Attack on the Nizhny Novgorod region

A drone attacked a Lukoil oil depot in the Nizhny Novgorod region. According to Baza, the drone crashed on the territory of the Kstovo enterprise. After that, a fire broke out. Emergency services are working at the scene. A fire train has been engaged. According to preliminary reports, there were no casualties.

"In the morning, an unmanned aerial vehicle attacked the Kstovo industrial zone, a facility of the fuel and energy complex. Special services are working at the site, all the necessary forces and means are being deployed to localize the fire at one of the oil refineries. According to preliminary reports, there are no casualties," said the region's governor, Gleb Nikitin.

Lukoil reported that the operation of the LUKOIL-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez process unit was temporarily suspended "due to the incident". A fire train was used to extinguish the fire, RIA reported, citing Russian Railways.

Commentary of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine

"We know about explosions and other incidents at a number of military facilities used by the enemy for military purposes, in particular, to support the occupation group of troops in Ukraine. Everything that is used for military purposes is subject to such incidents," said Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Radio Liberty reports.

According to him, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine cannot comment on the means used to attack the facilities in the Russian Federation. However, Yusov emphasized that the work to destroy those facilities that supply Russian troops will continue.

"Everything that is used for military purposes - one way or another, such incidents happen to them. Traditionally, we cannot comment on who and what caused the damage. But this work will continue," said Andriy Yusov.