Ukraine hit targets across Russia today with at least 25 drones and nine rockets, in an attack that a Russian official said caused a fire at a major refinery, reports Reuters.
Russia and Ukraine have used drones to attack critical infrastructure, military facilities and troop concentrations in their more than two-year war, with Kiev targeting Russian refineries and energy facilities in recent months.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down 25 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, including Moscow, Leningrad, Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk, Tula and Orel, according to Reuters.
Russian officials reported attacks on a number of energy facilities, including a fire at a Lukoil refinery and a destroyed drone on the outskirts of the city of Kirishi, home to Russia's second-largest oil refinery.
Gleb Nikitin, governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, posted a picture of the NORSI refinery and said emergency services were working to extinguish the fire.
"The drones attacked the facility of the fuel and energy complex," Nikitin said on the Telegram messaging app.
Russian Telegram channels reported that the crude oil distillation unit at the refinery was damaged and set on fire.
Lukoil did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The NORSI refinery can process about 17 million metric tons of oil per year, or 340.000 barrels per day. It usually produces 11% of Russian gasoline. Domestic gasoline prices are sensitive for drivers and farmers in the world's largest wheat exporter ahead of the presidential election, which takes place from 15-17. March Russia introduced a six-month ban on gasoline exports on March 1.
Drones and missiles
The base Telegram channel, which is close to Russian law enforcement, said Lukoil's refinery in Nizhny Novgorod was also hit and showed images of plumes of black smoke rising into the air and a large fire.
Reuters could not independently verify the report.
The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine fired eight RM-70 missiles and one Tocka-U missile at the Belgorod area, where some Russian war correspondents said there were also attempts by armed groups to cross into Russian territory.
At least two armed groups based in Ukraine, allegedly made up of Russians opposed to the Kremlin, said on their social media pages that they had launched an incursion across the Russian border on Tuesday.
Reuters could not independently verify the claims.
Oryol Oblast Governor Andrey Klichkov said Ukraine carried out a drone attack on a fuel facility in the region, and the RIA news agency, citing emergency services, said an oil tank was on fire after the attack.
The governor later said that firefighters extinguished the fire.
Reuters also reports that at least 17 people have been evacuated from high-rise buildings near where the drone crashed to a temporary accommodation center.
Officials in several regions continued to report drone attacks after the defense ministry's announcement.
There were no victims in the attacks.
One drone flying towards Moscow was shot down over the Ramen district near the capital, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram.
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