The attack occurred in Novochakhtinsk, in the Rostov region housing the headquarters of the Russian operation in Ukraine, regional governor Vassili Goloubev said on Telegram, stressing that “according to initial information, there is no of victims or injuries.
“A fire broke out at the Novochakhtinsk refinery following a drone attack,” he said. Shortly after the emergency services arrived on the scene, a second drone attack targeted the refinery, causing the firefighters to suspend their work, according to the same source.
120 firefighters deployed
In total, around 120 firefighters were deployed to the site to bring the fire under control, which was finally extinguished a few hours later, Vassili Goloubev said. The Novochakhtinsk refinery, which is considered one of the most important oil installations in southern Russia, is often targeted by Ukrainian attacks.
At the same time, another drone strike destroyed an oil tank in the night at a depot in Stary Oskol, north of the Ukrainian border, said Viacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine. The fire was “quickly extinguished” and there were “no casualties”, he added.
13 Ukrainian drones destroyed
For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that 13 Ukrainian drones had been destroyed overnight over the annexed Crimean peninsula, six others over the Belgorod region and an anti-aircraft missile. ship Neptune over the Rostov region.
Ukraine, faced with the Russian offensive for more than two years, regularly responds by attacking Russian regions and particularly targeting energy sites.