Ukrainian UAVs Attack Major Oil and Gas Facilities in Russia, Moscow Points Out What the West Is Supporting Kiev

Dozens of Ukrainian drones attacked energy facilities in southern Russia on February 3, causing fires at a major oil refinery and a gas processing plant and disrupting flights from the Volga region to the Caucasus Mountains.

Since Moscow launched a special military operation in Ukraine in 2022, Kiev has responded by attacking deep into Russian territory with drones and missiles. (Source: Reuters)

The Russian Defense Ministry said that air defense units intercepted and destroyed 70 Ukrainian drones overnight on the country's territory, including 25 in the Volgograd region, 27 in the Rostov region, and seven in the Astrakhan region.

"The air defense forces of the Ministry of Defense repelled a large-scale drone attack on the territory of the Volgograd region," Governor Andrei Bocharov said.

According to Mr. Bocharov, the debris of the falling drone caused multiple fires at an oil refinery, but did not disclose specifically which factory was on fire.

Russia's Baza news channel reported a series of explosions in the area around an oil refinery operated by Lukoil, Russia's second-largest oil producer with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day and the largest refinery in the south of the country.

In the vicinity of Astrakhan, Governor Igor Babushkin confirmed that Ukrainian drones attempted to attack several energy facilities, causing large fires.

In a post on the Telegram app, Mr. Babushkin emphasized: "The Ukrainian armed forces attempted to carry out a drone attack on targets in the area, including fuel and energy facilities. However, there were no casualties."

In addition, according to Lieutenant Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the Astrakhan gas processing plant in Russia was also hit. The plant is controlled by the gas corporation Gazprom and is responsible for processing about 8,340 tons of gas condensate per day.

Russia said the attacks escalated the conflict and accused the West of supporting Ukraine with weapons and intelligence.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials asserted that the country had the right to respond, because Russian energy, transport and military facilities played an important role in Moscow's fighting efforts.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/uav-cua-ukraine-tan-cong-cac-co-so-dau-khi-lon-o-nga-moscow-chi-ra-nhung-thu-ma-phuong-tay-ho-tro-kiev-302987.html