Ukrainian drones target Russian oil facility in Saratov region

Ukraine has claimed responsibility for an overnight drone strike deep inside Russia, targeting an oil depot supplying fuel to a military airfield in Engels, about 640 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

The Ukrainian military announced on January 8 that the attack caused a massive fire at the Kombinat Kristall oil depot, which services the Engels-2 airfield in the Saratov, home to Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, Caliber.Az reports via CNN.

Images verified by CNN depicted towering flames and thick plumes of smoke rising from the site early on January 8.

“The destruction of this oil depot poses significant logistical challenges for the Russian occupiers’ strategic aviation,” said Ukraine’s military. “It will greatly hinder their ability to launch strikes on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure.”

Long-range drone attacks have become a cornerstone of Ukraine’s strategy in the nearly three-year-long conflict. As ground battles have become entrenched, Kyiv has intensified its aerial campaign to disrupt Russian logistics, destroy weapons depots, and ignite critical oil facilities.

This is not the first time Ukraine has targeted Saratov, a region located over 600 kilometres (375 miles) from the Ukrainian border. However, earlier attacks were largely intercepted by Russian air defences.

The governor of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, confirmed a “massive” drone strike on Engels and Saratov, stating that an industrial site had sustained damage. Ukrainian officials identified the targeted site as the Engels-2 oil depot.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence reported intercepting 23 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 11 over Saratov and four over the Kursk region, where Ukraine has intensified counterattacks. However, it did not specify how many drones evaded interception. Ukraine’s military noted “numerous explosions” in Saratov.

Oleksandr Kamyshin, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, highlighted the local origins of the drones used in the strike. “These long-range drones are designed and built in Ukraine,” he stated.

CNN previously gained exclusive access to one of Ukraine’s long-range drone units, which has conducted hundreds of strikes on Russian territory since the conflict began in February 2022.

Meanwhile, Russia launched its own drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, firing 64 drones, according to Ukraine’s air force. Of these, 41 were reportedly shot down, and 22 failed to reach their targets.

By Aghakazim Guliyev