Governor claims: Ukrainian drone attack sets Russian oil depot on fire

A Ukrainian drone strike sparked a fire at an oil depot in Russia’s Rostov region on Saturday, according to a Telegram post by Governor Vasily Golubev. The incident occurred far from the front lines of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine that began in February 2022.

“A fire broke out at an oil refinery in Tsimlyansky district following a drone strike,” Golubev wrote, adding that there were no casualties, according to AFP.

Throughout the war, both sides have made extensive use of drones, including larger self-detonating models that can fly hundreds of kilometers. A source in the Ukrainian defense sector confirmed that Kyiv was responsible for the attack on the oil depot.

“The SBU drones continue to impose targeted economic sanctions against the Russian energy complex, which is working for the war in Ukraine,” the source said.

“More than three dozen successful attacks on Russian oil depots and refineries have already significantly reduced Russia’s oil refining and revenues.”

Governor Golubev later reported that the fire had been successfully extinguished. In addition to the drone attack in Rostov, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that its forces had intercepted and shot down four more Ukrainian drones in the Rostov, Belgorod and Kursk regions bordering Ukraine.