Russia refinery hit by Ukrainian drone attack

A Ukrainian drone attack has damaged a refinery in the southern Russian region of Rostov, causing a fire that spread over 50 square meters, according to the region’s governor.

Governor Vasily Golubiev reported that no one was injured in the attack, which occurred in the city of Novoshakhtinsk, located near the Ukrainian border. The refinery was previously targeted by Ukrainian drones in April.

The fire was reportedly larger in videos shared on social media, and local residents reported hearing explosions and seeing air defence systems being deployed.

The Russian refinery attack is part of a long-standing campaign by Ukraine to disrupt Russian fuel production and supplies using drones capable of travelling long distances and carrying small explosive charges.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military reported that Russia launched a series of attacks during the night, including 18 combat drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles. Kiev said that 17 drones were shot down, while the missiles were aimed at the southern Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk, but no damage was reported.

The attacks come as Ukraine continues to fend off a full-scale Russian invasion, which has lasted over 27 months. Russia has occupied almost a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014.