Huge smoke clouds seen over Yaroslavl as Russia reports hundreds of drones intercepted
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine’s military has carried out long-range attacks on two Russian oil refineries as Kyiv continues its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.
Zelenskyy said facilities in Bashkortostan and Yaroslavl were targeted in the latest strikes. In Yaroslavl, huge clouds of black smoke were seen rising over the city following the reported attack.
The strikes are part of a wider Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian infrastructure that Kyiv says supports Moscow’s war effort.
Russia reports major drone attack
Russia’s regional governor described the attack in Yaroslavl as the “largest ever attack by enemy drones”.
According to the governor, Russian forces destroyed 93 drones during the attack, although falling debris reportedly struck oil storage tanks at the refinery.
The reports have not independently confirmed the full extent of the damage to the facility.
Hundreds of drones intercepted
Russia’s military said it intercepted and destroyed 605 Ukrainian drones across several regions during the latest wave of attacks.
Yaroslavl was among the regions targeted, highlighting the growing reach of Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign deep inside Russian territory.
Three people were reportedly killed in the attacks, although details surrounding the deaths were not immediately clear.
The large number of drones involved demonstrates the scale of the latest Ukrainian operation and the increasing pressure being placed on Russian air defences.
Ukraine targets Russian infrastructure
Ukraine has launched a series of attacks against Russian infrastructure in recent weeks, including oil refineries, warehouses and other facilities connected to Russia’s economy and military supply chains.
Kyiv has increasingly relied on long-range weapons and drones to strike targets far from the front lines.
Ukrainian officials argue that attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure can disrupt fuel supplies and reduce Moscow’s ability to finance its military operations.
Russia has repeatedly condemned such strikes and increased its efforts to intercept Ukrainian drones before they reach their targets.
Deadly attacks reported in Ukraine
While Ukraine continues its strikes against Russian infrastructure, Ukrainian officials have also reported deadly Russian attacks inside Ukraine.
Three people were reportedly killed when Russian drones struck a residential area. Two others were killed in an attack at a railway station, while another person died after a ship carrying wheat was attacked near Odesa.
The incidents highlight the continued danger faced by civilians and workers as attacks continue across both countries.
Conflict intensifies
The latest exchange of strikes comes as both Russia and Ukraine continue to expand their use of drones and long-range weapons.
Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries are aimed at putting pressure on critical energy infrastructure, while Russia continues to launch drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
The growing scale and geographical reach of the attacks underline the continuing intensity of the conflict, with energy facilities and transport networks increasingly becoming targets on both sides.
