Ukraine rejected Moscow’s claims that a Ukrainian drone hit the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. kyiv simultaneously redoubled its attacks on Russian energy facilities.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported that drones attacked the Saratov refinery, in southwestern Russia, causing a large fire. The refinery belongs to the state-owned Rosneft. The local governor, Roman Busargin, confirmed damage to civil infrastructure without giving details. The Russian channel Astra reported flames at the refinery.
“Tonight, our soldiers will apply Ukraine’s long-range sanctions against an oil refinery in Saratov — approximately 700 kilometers from the front line. A significant achievement,” President Zelenskyy wrote on social media.
Fragments of a drone caused a fire at a fuel depot in the Rostov region. Governor Yuriy Slyusar reported evacuations of nearby homes. Ukraine confirmed its responsibility for the attack on the town of Matveev Kurgan.
In addition, a drone attacked the Lazarevo pumping station in the Kirov region, northwest of Moscow, more than 1,200 kilometers from Ukrainian-controlled territory. The station transports Siberian oil to Belarus. Governor Alexander Sokolov confirmed the impact.
Incident in Zaporizhia
Russia claims a Ukrainian drone hit the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest. The Russian state company Rosatom assured that the drone opened a hole in the wall of a turbine room. Its director, Alexei Likhachev, called the attack “deliberate.”
The Ukrainian military called the accusation a “propaganda maneuver” and denied attacking the plant. He noted that he abides by international humanitarian law and that he is aware of the consequences of attacking nuclear facilities.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that its inspectors observed damage to the exterior of a turbine building, consistent with a drone impact. They did not attribute the attack to either party, but confirmed that radiation levels remained normal.
“During an inspection of the facility, the team detected damage to a metal access hatch, as well as debris and burned fiber optic remains on the floor,” the IAEA said.
The Zaporizhzhia plant has been the target of repeated attacks since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. Moscow and kyiv accuse each other, raising fears of a nuclear accident.
More attacks and victims
The Ukrainian Air Force shot down 212 of the 299 drones launched by Russia overnight. Fourteen achieved their goals. In Chernihiv, a truck driver died when drones hit a parking lot.
Russian drones also hit Dnipro and a refinery in the Rivne region, causing fires. In Dnipropetrovsk province, one person was killed and nine injured in Russian attacks.
