Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv drones hit Russian city containing major military base causing huge fires
Ukrainian presidential advisor Alexander Kamyshin says the strike on the Russian oil facility shows Kyiv has ‘superpowers’
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Your support makes all the difference.A major fire has erupted in an oil facility in the Russian city of Engels after a long range Ukrainian drone attack.
Footage online has shown flames engulfing parts of the Kristall oil storage facility following claims by local officials that Ukraine launched a “mass drone attack” at that region.
Ukrainian presidential advisor Alexander Kamyshin confirmed the facility was hit by Ukraine’s long-range drones. “Our defence tech is our superpower,” he wrote.
The Ukrainian military, who also confirmed Kyiv’s involvement in the attack, said the facility provides fuel for Russian bomber planes responsible for launching missile attacks against Ukraine.
The city is also host to a major military airbase that has been used as a launchpad for these bomber planes to fire cruise missiles at Ukraine. Kyiv has targeted the base, known as Engels-2, twice this year already.
Russia’s defence ministry said in a statement that 11 Ukrainian drones had been destroyed overnight over the Saratov region in which Engels is located, and 21 over other parts of Russia and the Azov Sea. It did not mention any damage.
The air base is located about 450 miles southeast of Moscow and hundreds of miles from the Ukrainian border.
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Ukraine military confirms responsibility over Engels strike
The Ukrainian military has confirmed responsibility for a drone strike against a Russian oil base in the city of Engels.
They said they hit the Russian oil base, known as Kristall, to “reduce [Russia’s] ability to strike peaceful Ukrainian cities and civilian objects”, as well as to “create serious logistical problems for Russian occupiers’ strategic aviation”.
They claimed the oil base, located near a major Russian military airbase, was fueling bomber planes that were later being used to fire missiles at Ukraine.
It is not usual practice for the Ukrainians to officially state responsibility for attacks deep inside of Russia.
You can read their full statement below.
Ukraine military says it shot down 41 Russian drones launched overnight
The Ukrainian military said on Wednesday that Russia launched a total of 64 drones at the country overnight.
Of those drones, Ukraine‘s air force shot down 41, while 22 “imitator drones” did not reach their targets, the air force added.
Drone debris fell on a private residence in the Kyiv region, damaging its facade and windows without causing any casualties, according to the local authorities.
Footage shows aftermath of fire in Russian region
Footage published this morning has shown the aftermath of what local Russian officials are claiming is a Ukrainian drone attack on an oil facility in the city of Engels.
Russian media outlets have claimed the oil facility was used to fuel Russian bomber planes. The city is host to a major military base.
Ukraine stages drone attack on Russia's Saratov region, causing big fire
Ukrainian drones struck deep inside Russia overnight and attacked the Saratov region, causing a major fire in the city of Engels, the local governor said on Wednesday.
The region hosts a major air base for strategic bomber planes that form part of Russia’s nuclear forces. Ukraine has attacked the base with drones before, but there was no word on whether it had been targeted on this occasion.
Russian news reports said the fire was at an oil facility. Unverified videos and photos published on social media showed a large fire burning with orange flames, sending thick clouds of smoke into the night sky.
Regional governor Roman Busargin said the cities of Saratov and Engels, on opposite sides of the Volga river, had been subject to a “mass drone attack” and there was a fire at an industrial site, but that there were no known casualties.
“There are sufficient forces and resources to localise the fire,” he posted on Telegram.
Russia’s defence ministry said in a statement that 11 Ukrainian drones had been destroyed overnight over the Saratov region, and 21 over other parts of Russia and the Azov Sea. It did not mention any damage.
The Engels air base is located about 450 miles southeast of Moscow and hundreds of kilometres from the Ukrainian border. In December 2022, three Russian air force personnel were killed when a drone was shot down there.
Independent news outlet Astra said the oil depot where the fire was burning provided fuel for the air base. The Independent was not immediately able to confirm that.
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