(Kyiv) A fire broke out in an oil refinery after a nighttime attack by Ukrainian drones in Azov, in the Rostov region (south), local Russian authorities said on Tuesday, with Kyiv welcoming for its part a ” successful operation “.
“Oil tanks caught fire in Azov following a drone attack,” Vasily Golubev, the governor of the Rostov region, where the military headquarters of the Russian operation in Ukraine is located, wrote on Telegram. “According to initial information, there are no victims,” he assured.
At 12 a.m. ET, 208 firefighters, 39 vehicles and a fire train carrying various equipment were dispatched to the scene to bring the fire under control, according to Golubev.
A Ukrainian source within Defense and familiar with the operation immediately congratulated AFP on a “successful” attack. “Strong fires broke out in the oil installations,” added this source who requested anonymity.
“The SBU will continue to impose “drone sanctions” against the Russian oil complex and reduce the economic potential of the enemy,” the source argued.
In total in recent months, Ukraine claims “more than 20 successful attacks against Russian oil installations in various regions”, again according to this source.
Ukraine, faced with the Russian invasion for more than two years, regularly responds by attacking Russian regions and particularly targeting energy sites, to hit the rear lines.
Kyiv had promised to bring the fighting to Russian soil in retaliation for the numerous bombings on its territory.
On the battlefield, the Ukrainian military said Tuesday that Russian forces “continue to try” to penetrate the vicinity of Chasiv Yar, their target in the eastern Donetsk region.
The capture of this city could allow Russian troops to then accelerate their advances in this area of Donbass. The Ukrainian air force also claimed to have intercepted ten Iranian-designed explosive drones during the night from Monday to Tuesday.