Photo: Genya Savilov Agence France-Presse A Ukrainian serviceman conducts test flights with a drone before missions, in the Donetsk region, April 30, 2024.
France Media Agency
Posted at 10:56 a.m.
- Europe
Ukraine said on Wednesday it had carried out a nighttime drone attack against a major Russian refinery in the Ryazan region, located in western Russia, nearly 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
This new attack took place against a backdrop of tensions with Washington which has criticized in recent months, according to media reports, Kiev's strikes against energy installations located on Russian soil and asked it to 'put an end to it.
“A drone was used to strike the Ryazan refinery,” a source within the special services told Agence France-Presse Ukrainians.
Local media reported explosions and a fire at this refinery owned by Russian oil giant Rosneft which, according to its website, has a capacity of 17 million tons of oil per year.
The regional governor, Pavel Malkov, confirmed on Telegram a “drone attack”, but without giving further details, specifying that there were no victims according to preliminary information.
Ukraine, whose army is in difficulty on the front facing Russian forces, has increased drone attacks in recent months against refineries and oil depots in Russia, aimed at disrupting production capacities of the country.
Since the start of its invasion, Russia has systematically struck civilian sites in Ukraine, starting with its energy infrastructure.