A large fire broke out at an oil depot in Engels, Russia, following a Ukrainian drone attack early Wednesday morning. CNN
In a bold move, Ukrainian drones launched a deep strike inside Russia overnight, targeting an oil facility vital to the operations of a Russian military airfield in Engels. Located nearly 400 miles from the Ukrainian border, the attack struck the Kombinat Kristall oil depot, which supplies fuel to the Engels-2 airfield, home to Russia’s strategic bomber fleet.
As the flames engulfed the oil depot, a massive fire broke out at the site, causing significant damage. The blaze tragically claimed the lives of at least two Russian firefighters. Roman Busargin, the governor of the Saratov region, confirmed the deaths on Telegram, adding that one more firefighter was hospitalized. Photographs and videos from the scene showed large flames lighting up the dark sky, while smoke continued to pour from the site even as the day began.
Ukraine’s military spokesperson hailed the strike as a significant blow to Russia’s military capabilities. “The destruction of the oil depot raises major logistical challenges for the Russian strategic aviation,” the spokesperson said, emphasizing that the attack would hinder Russia’s ability to carry out strikes on Ukrainian cities and civilian targets. The assault is part of Ukraine's ongoing strategy to disrupt Russian supply lines and reduce its ability to carry out attacks on Ukrainian territory.
This attack is not the first targeting Russian infrastructure far from the front lines. While previous strikes on Saratov, over 600 kilometers from Ukraine, were mostly repelled by Russian air defenses, this one proved more successful. Busargin confirmed a “massive” drone strike on Saratov and Engels, both of which suffered significant damage to industrial sites, including the oil depot at Engels-2.
In response, Russia's defense ministry reported intercepting 23 Ukrainian drones during the overnight attack, with most of them targeting Saratov and the nearby Kursk region. However, it did not clarify how many drones actually reached their targets, though Ukrainian forces reported numerous explosions across the Saratov region.
As Ukraine tries to shoot down Russian drones over Kyiv on Wednesday, tracer rounds light up the night sky. CNN
The drones used in the attack were reportedly made in Ukraine, according to Oleksandr Kamyshin, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian forces have long relied on homegrown drones to conduct these long-range strikes, which have become a critical part of Ukraine’s strategy to fight back against Russian aggression. Since the war began in 2022, Ukrainian drones have carried out hundreds of such missions, targeting Russian military infrastructure deep inside their territory.
Meanwhile, Russia was not idle during the night. It launched 64 drones at various targets in Ukraine, but Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down 41 of them. Another 22 drones were rendered ineffective, with only one remaining unaccounted for.
The ongoing conflict has led to further escalation in various regions. In Zaporizhzhia, a Russian attack killed at least 13 people and wounded dozens more, as reported by Zelensky. The region, which remains partially under Russian occupation, has been a frequent target of missile and drone strikes from both sides.
As the war continues, both Russia and Ukraine have intensified their efforts to shift the frontlines. Ukrainian forces are advancing in the Kursk region, while Russia claims to have captured the eastern town of Kurakhove in Donetsk, although Kyiv contests this claim, stating that fighting still rages in the town.
This ongoing military action takes place amidst the potential for political shifts, with discussions of peace talks gaining traction due to changing international dynamics, including the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House.
