A Russian oil refinery has been pictured ablaze (Image: Exilenova )
A huge Russian oil depot is ablaze after it was struck by Ukrainian drone debris. The debris struck the facility, described as the largest in Moscow, as pictures show massive flames producing a column of smoke. The facility is located in the in Kapotnya, up to 14 miles from the centre of Russia’s capital.
Anton Gerashchenko, former advisor to Ukraine’s Internal Affairs Minister, said: “An oil refinery in Kapotnya, Moscow, Russia, is burning after a drone attack.” Drone strikes have also been reported in Poltavskaya, Krasnodar Krai, in the south of the country.
“Due to the fall of UAV debris, a fire broke out at an oil depot in the village of Poltavskaya, Krasnoarmeysky District,” the operational headquarters said.
No fatalities or injuries were reported, officials said, and 32 personnel and seven pieces of equipment were deployed to tackle the fire.
The road between Poltavskaya and Trudobelikovsky was temporarily closed, the Kyiv Independent reported. It comes after, on June 10 and 11, Ukraine’s defence forces reportedly struck Russian military, logistics and industrial facilities – with the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai among the targets, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
On June 13, Ukraine’s Special Group Alpha conducted struck the Tamanneftegaz oil and gas terminal in Krasnodar Krai, working with Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU).
The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russian forces conducted a large-scale drone and missile strike series against Ukraine on the night of June 14 to 15, heavily targeting Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv.
Ukrainian forces downed five Zirkons, 15 Iskander-Ms/S-400s, 30 Iskander-Ks/Kh-101s, and 582 drones, and 20 ballistic missiles and 27 drones struck 42 locations, the Ukrainian Air Force reported.
It added that debris fell on 12 locations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian strikes injured at least 53 people and killed at least 11 across Ukraine, including at least 35 injured and five killed in Kyiv.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said that drones and missiles struck from different directions, so that both direct hits and falling debris from intercepted air targets caused destruction, the ISW said.
Ihnat added that Russian forces also flew the drones at lower altitudes and used fast jet-powered drones, making them harder to intercept.
Experts say Russia is adapting its strike tactics to maximise damage.
