At least 13 people, including a child, have been killed and 75 others injured in a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, Russian authorities said.
The attack was one of the deadliest single strikes on Russian territory since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Drones struck the city of Nizhnekamsk, located more than 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Ukraine’s Armed Forces confirmed that the Tanevo oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk was hit, while Ukrainian defence technology manufacturer FirePoint said its FP-1 drones were used in the operation.
Local reports said the strike continued for several hours overnight and into the morning. Oil-refining facilities in Nizhnekamsk had previously been targeted in an attack on 12 June.
Verified images circulating on social media showed huge plumes of smoke and flames rising into the sky during daylight, while air-raid sirens could be heard in the background.
Ukraine has intensified its long-range attacks on Russian energy and industrial infrastructure, arguing that such facilities contribute revenue, weapons production and logistical support to Moscow’s war effort.
“The facilities Ukraine targets are used to carry out attacks against Ukraine, manufacture weapons, support Russia’s war effort,” Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, said.
Russian authorities confirmed that industrial facilities had been targeted but said residential areas were also struck.
“Civilian individuals who were not involved in any military operations were present,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said. The claim has not been independently verified.
Tatarstan’s head, Rustam Minnikhanov, confirmed the attack and expressed condolences to the families of those killed.
“This is a tremendous pain for all of us,” Nizhnekamsk mayor Radmir Belayev said.
A period of mourning has been declared across Tatarstan.
Kovalenko attributed the civilian deaths to Russia’s leadership, saying Russians should direct their grievances towards President Vladimir Putin and the decisions made by the government.
“Without Putin, there would have been no aggression. Without the aggression, these people would still be alive,” he said.
Moscow also claimed that more than 450 Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air-defence systems overnight.
The attack comes as Ukraine has become increasingly capable of conducting long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory, frequently targeting energy infrastructure, military facilities and warehouses believed to support Russia’s war effort.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to launch large-scale drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian cities and residential areas.
Last week, a combined Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv killed 21 people, while five people were killed overnight in a Russian artillery strike on Kharkiv, according to Ukrainian authorities.
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