KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine claimed responsibility Tuesday for an overnight drone attack on a Russian oil facility that started a massive blaze in the latest long-range strike by Kyiv’s forces on a border region.
Ukraine has in recent months stepped up aerial assaults on Russian soil, targeting refineries and oil terminals in an effort to slow down the Kremlin’s war machine. Moscow’s army is pressing hard along the front line in eastern Ukraine, where a shortage of troops and ammunition in the third year of war has made defenders vulnerable.
The attack set fire to an oil reservoir in Russia’s Rostov region and more than 200 firefighters were at the scene, according to Rostov Gov. Vasily Golubev.
The blaze covered an area of 5,000 square meters (55,000 square feet) but there were no casualties, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said.
A Ukrainian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give the information to the media, said the attack was a special operation of Ukraine’s Security Service, known as SBU. The drones targeted two Rostov oil depots that have 22 oil reservoirs, the official said.
It was not possible to independently confirm the claim.
Kyiv officials normally decline comment about attacks on Russian territory, though they sometimes refer obliquely to them.
Ukrainian drone developers have been extending the weapons’ range for months, as Kyiv attempts to compensate for its battlefield disadvantage. The unmanned aerial vehicles are also an affordable option while Ukraine waits for the arrival of more Western military aid.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Ukraine reports drone strike on Russian oil facility, causing significant fire outbreak
In a recent development that has escalated tensions between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine has reported a drone strike on a Russian oil facility, resulting in a significant fire outbreak. The incident, which took place in the early hours of the morning, has raised concerns about the potential for further conflict between the two neighboring countries.
According to Ukrainian officials, the drone strike targeted a key oil facility in Russia’s Rostov region, which is located near the border with Ukraine. The strike reportedly caused a massive fire to break out at the facility, leading to widespread damage and disruption to the production of oil in the region.
The Ukrainian government has condemned the attack, calling it a “provocative and reckless act of aggression” by Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to take all necessary measures to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of such attacks.
On the other hand, Russia has denied any involvement in the drone strike, dismissing the claims as “baseless propaganda” by Ukraine. Russian officials have accused Ukraine of fabricating the incident in order to justify its own aggressive actions against Russia.
The drone strike on the Russian oil facility comes at a time of heightened tensions between Ukraine and Russia, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. The incident has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation in the region, with both countries already engaged in a protracted conflict that has claimed thousands of lives.
The international community has called for restraint and dialogue between Ukraine and Russia to prevent further escalation of the conflict. The United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the situation and explore ways to de-escalate tensions between the two countries.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Ukraine and Russia will navigate the fallout from the drone strike on the Russian oil facility. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragile peace in the region and the potential for conflict to erupt at any moment.
