Ukrainian drones targeted an oil refinery in Russia’s Tyumen region, striking over 1,200 miles away from the border, as confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The military’s special operations were praised for effectively reaching Western Siberia, showcasing Ukraine’s new long-range drones capable of operating beyond 1,800 miles.
Reports from the governor of Tyumen Region, Alexander Moor, indicated that Russian air defenses successfully thwarted a drone attack on the oil refinery, with no damage reported and staff safely evacuated. The Tyumen refinery, known for its advanced facilities, has an annual capacity of approximately 8 million metric tonnes, processing around 6 million tonnes of crude oil annually and producing significant quantities of petrol and diesel.
In a significant development, Ukraine’s drone strike on the Moscow Oil Refinery, just nine miles from the Kremlin, resulted in “oil rain” in parts of the Moscow region. Despite authorities denying the occurrence of such an event, images and videos showed vehicles and buildings covered in black specks.
The series of drone attacks also impacted Moscow, with nearly 200 drones targeting various locations. Incidents included a drone crashing into an apartment building and another strike causing a fire at a shopping center, resulting in injuries. In a separate attack in Russia’s Rostov region, one person was reported dead and two injured.
President Zelensky defended the strikes on social media as a justified response to Russian aggression towards Ukraine. The escalation led to the closure of Moscow’s airports, causing significant flight delays. Russian air defenses intercepted numerous drones, with Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reporting the downing of approximately 180 drones and the defense ministry intercepting over 500 drones nationwide.
As diplomatic efforts remain stalled, Kyiv has intensified its drone strikes on Russia, specifically targeting oil refineries to disrupt Moscow’s war financing. The recent attacks underscore the ongoing tensions between the two nations as they navigate the prolonged conflict.
