An oil storage depot in Russia’s Kursk region was set ablaze following a drone attack launched by Ukraine, according to acting regional Governor Alexei Smirnov. Three tanks at the depot caught fire, with one fire quickly extinguished, while 82 firefighters worked to combat the blazes at the other two tanks using 32 pieces of equipment.
In addition to the damage at the oil depot, the drones reportedly caused damage to several residential buildings in the area, injuring one person. Both Russia and Ukraine have denied targeting civilians amid the ongoing conflict that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Kyiv’s General Staff confirmed the strike on the Polevaya oil depot, describing it as resulting in “powerful explosions” and ongoing assessments of the attack’s impact. Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry reported that its air defense systems had intercepted two drones over the Kursk region.
Reuters has not independently verified these reports. Ukraine maintains that its strikes on Russian energy, military, and transport infrastructure are retaliatory measures against Moscow’s continued assaults on Ukrainian territory.