Last week, Ukraine targeted two Russian oil depots in Smolensk, a region of Russia close to the borders with Belarus and Ukraine. These drone strikes destroyed about 26,000 cubic meters of fuel, as reported by Reuters. Videos on social media showed significant fires and smoke at these facilities, located west of Moscow.
The governor of Smolensk, Vasily Anothkin, confirmed the attack, stating that there were no injuries, though it did impact civilian infrastructure. Further drone strikes occurred in the Voronezh and Lipetsk regions of Russia, focusing on industrial areas without harming residential zones or causing any casualties.
These incidents are the latest in a series of attacks following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia has been targeting Ukrainian energy and infrastructure, while Ukraine has responded with drone attacks on Russian oil facilities to hinder the Russian military's fuel supply.
These increased attacks raise international concerns about the potential effects on global energy markets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has justified these actions as necessary for self-defense and the strategic deployment of Ukraine's military capabilities.
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