Ukraine announced on Wednesday that its forces had targeted and hit a Russian oil depot located hundreds of kilometres from the shared border, in the Saratov region, which reportedly serves the Russian air force.
The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed the strike, stating that the depot supplied fuel to the Engels-2 military airfield, home to Russia’s strategic aviation. The attack is part of a series of cross-border operations between Russia and Ukraine, which have escalated as the war nears its third year.
Russian officials acknowledged the strike, with the defence ministry reporting that 32 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight, including 11 in the Saratov region. The governor of Saratov, Roman Busargin, confirmed a fire at an industrial facility after the drone attack, though no casualties were reported.
Ukraine has previously targeted oil facilities to disrupt Russia’s energy revenue, which funds its military efforts. The Ukrainian General Staff noted that this particular attack would complicate Russian aviation operations and reduce their ability to target Ukrainian cities.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air defence claimed to have downed 41 Russian drones, with additional drones neutralised by jamming systems or radar.
In the southern region of Kherson, Ukrainian authorities reported two civilian fatalities and five injuries due to Russian artillery and drone attacks.
