Ukrainian drones ignite Russian oil depot in night strike
During the night, Ukraine attacked an oil depot with drones in the town of Yartsevo in Russia. "Ukrainian unmanned aircraft attacked the facilities of the fuel and energy complex. As a result of the enemy attack, fires occurred," wrote the head of the Smolensk region.
"Ukrainian unmanned aircraft attacked the facilities of the fuel and energy complex. As a result of the enemy attack, fires occurred. At the moment, EMERCOM units are working at the scene, extinguishing open flames. Special services and relevant authorities are investigating the situation," wrote the head of the Smolensk region, Roman Zakharov.
The Russian Ministry of Defence also confirmed the attack. "The attack by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles was suppressed today in Yartsevo by air defence forces," reads the statement.
According to preliminary information provided by Russian services, the wreckage of one of the drones fell on the grounds of the oil depot. As a result, a fuel leak occurred, and substances began to ignite. Services are operating on-site. Authorities report that there is no threat to people or residential buildings.
The oil depot went up in flames
Recordings from the scene quickly appeared on Ukrainian Telegram channels.
The attached recordings show plumes of smoke rising above the base along with flames covering more and more areas.
Air defence was active at the scene. The recordings show Ukrainian drones being shot down.
The head of the Smolensk region appealed to the residents of Yartsevo not to share photos from the attack site. "Security authorities warn that duplicating photos and videos of the launch sites of unmanned aerial vehicles allows for calculating their locations. This way, the enemy can obtain all the necessary information about the positions of the Russian air defence system and adjust the route of the next strike to bypass it," wrote Zakharov.
