Ukraine confirms strike on Russian oil depot, Kremniy plant; UAVs target Moscow, Bryansk, Ryazan, Kursk

Local authorities' Telegram channels, as well as Russian propaganda media and government agencies, reported this information.

Ryazan oil refining company, Ryazan oil pumping station, Kremniy El microelectronics plant damaged

Ukraine’s General Staff reported the information.

“Drones of Ukraine’s Security Service and the Special Operations Forces within Armed Forces, in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces hit the facilities involved in the supply of the occupying Russian army on the night of January 24,” the statement said.

As a result of the strikes, fires broke out at the production facilities of the Ryazan Oil Refining Company and at the Ryazan oil pumping station. The Kremniy El microelectronics plant in Bryansk was also damaged.

As noted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, this is one of the key enterprises in Russia’s microelectronics industry. The plant produces a wide range of microcircuits and components used in strategically important weapons systems, including Topol-M and Bulava missile systems, S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, and combat aircraft avionics.

The results of the destruction are still being clarified.

Moscow region and suburbs: airport operations restricted

Just a few minutes after midnight on January 24 (Kyiv time), Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that the Defense Ministry's air defense forces had repelled an attack by drones flying toward Moscow.

He added that, according to preliminary data, there was no damage or casualties at the site of the crash, and emergency services were working on the ground.

A few minutes later, at 00:20 a.m. Kyiv time, Sobyanin added that the Defense Ministry's air defense forces had allegedly shot down two more drones headed for the Russian capital in the Podolsk urban district. And at 00:49 a.m. he wrote about another allegedly downed drone, this time in the Troitsky administrative district of Moscow. 

Meanwhile, the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency reported that temporary restrictions have been imposed on the operation of Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports. At 00:50 a.m. Kyiv time, they added that restrictions were also being introduced at Vnukovo airport.

Ryazan region: explosions near an oil depot

At 11:27 p.m. Kyiv time, the governor of the Ryazan region, Pavel Malkov, wrote that air defense and electronic warfare systems had destroyed unmanned aerial vehicles over the Ryazan region. The governor did not name the number of drones destroyed, only added that, according to preliminary information, “there were no casualties, material damage is being assessed.”

At the same time, Russian sources reported an attack on the Ryazan Oil Refining Company near Ryazan. According to the Astra Telegram channel, explosions were heard near a local oil depot in Ryazan. Local residents reported at least 10 explosions.

Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, also wrote on his Telegram channel that it was loud in the Ryazan region. 

“And there is an oil depot there. And there's also an oil refinery, one of the key facilities in the Russian oil industry, which, although under sanctions, is still operating. It is located in the Ryazan region and plays an important role in providing fuel for both the civilian and military-industrial complex of Russia. It produces fuel for military equipment, aviation kerosene, diesel fuel and other types of petroleum products used in tanks, aircraft, ships and other equipment of the Russian Armed Forces,” Kovalenko added.

Astra later published the video and noted that they were able to identify the objects in it. According to the channel, during the drone strikes on Ryazan, the Novoryazanskaya thermal power plant was attacked. A fire broke out there.

Kursk: mayor claims UAV attack

Meanwhile, around midnight, Kursk Mayor Igor Kutsak reported that a Ukrainian UAV had been shot down over Kursk. 

“Four households were damaged by the falling debris. I went to one of the addresses that requested the Kursk emergency service’s help. All services are at the scene, and there are no casualties,” he added.

The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on this information.

As previously reported by the Russian Defense Ministry, within three hours, namely between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Kyiv time, their air defense systems allegedly destroyed 49 unmanned aerial vehicles: 37 over the territory of the Kursk region, seven over the territory of the Bryansk region, four over the territory of the temporarily occupied Ukrainian Crimea, and one over the territory of the Belgorod region.

Kremniy plant in Bryansk

Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, stated that the Kremniy plant in Bryansk was attacked again. The plant produces microelectronics for missile systems, including Pantsir air defense systems, Iskander missiles, as well as for radar, electronic warfare, and Russian UAVs.

He noted that this was at least the third attack by unknown drones on the enterprise.

According to the Astra channel, the building of the regional investigative committee on Krasnoarmeyskaya Street in Bryansk was damaged in a massive drone attack on the night of January 24. The building's facade was damaged and windows were smashed, sources in the Russian Emergencies Ministry told ASTRA. After the UAV attack, the building of the Institute of Management and Business also caught fire. The facade of the building was damaged. No one was injured. Earlier, the Defense Ministry reported that 37 UAVs were shot down in the region overnight.

• Russian authorities report a purported drone attack on the Smolensk region overnight on January 21. Governors of Bryansk, Rostov, and Voronezh regions also claim drone attacks.