Ukraine has launched devastating drone attacks across Russia, targeting major oil refineries and transport infrastructure deep behind enemy lines. The strikes hit the Kuibyshevsky refinery in Samara and the Afipsky oil depot in Krasnodar Krai, triggering massive fires and prompting emergency responses.
The attacks demonstrate Ukraine's growing capability to strike critical Russian infrastructure far from the frontlines. The Kuibyshevsky facility sits 621 miles behind the front, while the Afipsky depot is located 186 miles from Ukrainian positions.
Massive refinery fires
A devastating fire erupted at the Kuibyshevsky oil refinery in the early hours after sustained drone bombardment. Local witnesses counted at least 17 drones heading towards the facility before reporting thundering explosions from the refinery vicinity.
Video footage shared on social media shows an enormous blaze engulfing the premises. Firefighters were dispatched to battle the raging inferno as Samara's governor announced temporary flight restrictions from the city's airport and mobile internet outages "for citizens' safety."
Southern Russia targeted
The Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai came under attack again during the overnight bombardment. Drones struck a gas and condensate processing unit, causing extensive damage and flames visible in video images shared by local residents.
Twenty-one firefighters struggled to bring the 20-square-metre blaze under control. Russian officials claimed the depot had been hit by falling debris from a shot-down drone, despite video evidence showing direct strikes.
Transport infrastructure hit
Ukrainian drones targeted the TChE-7 locomotive depot in Petrov Val, Volgograd region, causing another fire to break out. The city came under repeated drone attack just five days after a previous bombardment.
A railway station in Samara region was also reportedly struck during the coordinated assault. The attacks form part of Kyiv's stepped-up efforts in recent weeks to destroy critical Russian infrastructure deep inside the country.
Sources used: "Express" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
