Ukrainian Drone Strikes Russian Oil Storage Depot, Sparking Large Fire
In a shocking turn of events, an oil storage depot in southern Russia was hit by a Ukrainian drone, causing a massive fire to break out. According to Russian officials, four oil tanks caught fire, and the flames quickly spread over an area of 1,000 square meters. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident.
The Bryansk governor revealed that the drone was intercepted near the town of Klintsy, and its explosives fell on the oil depot, igniting the fire. This attack marks the second instance of Ukrainian drones targeting Russian oil facilities within two days. Just a day prior, a major oil loading terminal in St. Petersburg was also attacked, although reports suggest that the drone was shot down without causing any damage.
The distance between the Ukrainian border and the location of the attack has raised concerns among experts, indicating a potential shift in strategy. Ukrainian Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin confirmed the successful strike, stating, “Yes, last night we hit the target. This thing crossed 1,250km (776 miles) last night.”
Russia’s defense ministry announced that its air defense systems had brought down a Ukrainian drone over Bryansk, followed by the destruction of two more drones without causing any harm. As the fire continued to rage at the Klintsy oil depot, black smoke billowed over neighboring railway tracks. Approximately 30 individuals were evacuated from the area as a precautionary measure.
Reports have also emerged regarding a drone strike on a gunpowder factory near Tambov, located hundreds of kilometers northeast of the Ukrainian border. Ukraine’s main intelligence directorate stated that further attacks on military targets within Russia were imminent, as most of Russia’s air defense and electronic warfare systems were concentrated in occupied parts of Ukraine.
Despite Russia’s limited progress in its invasion of Ukraine in recent months, the defense ministry claimed to have captured the village of Vesele on Thursday, near the devastated city of Bakhmut in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. However, Kyiv has not yet confirmed this claim.
Ukraine has been vocal about its army facing severe ammunition shortages but has set an ambitious target of producing one million drones domestically this year. Minister Kamyshin highlighted the affordability of the drones, emphasizing that the one used in the St. Petersburg attack cost a mere $350 to make.
The international community is growing increasingly concerned about the possibility of Russia expanding its war with Ukraine to a NATO member state in the coming years. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius joined other European leaders in warning about this potential escalation. He stated, “We hear threats from the Kremlin almost every day, most recently again against our friends in the Baltic states.” Pistorius aims to prepare German society and ensure that the Bundeswehr, Germany’s military, becomes “war-ready.”
In response to these rising tensions, NATO commanders announced that the alliance’s largest exercise since the Cold War, Steadfast Defender, will commence next week and continue until May. This exercise will involve 90,000 troops from all 31 NATO member states and Sweden, which is set to join the alliance in the near future. Sweden’s military chief and civil defense minister have also issued warnings, urging their nation to prepare for the possibility of war.
The German Council on Foreign Relations previously released a report in October, cautioning that once intensive fighting in Ukraine ceased, Russia could reconstitute its armed forces within six to ten years. This report emphasized the need for NATO to be prepared to fend off a potential Russian attack.
As tensions continue to rise between Ukraine and Russia, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution to this escalating conflict. The recent drone strikes on Russian oil facilities serve as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of this ongoing war.
