Ukraine's Drone Attack Damages Industrial Facilities in Russia's Saratov
Ukraine often claims its drone attacks into Russia aim to destroy important infrastructure for Moscow's war effort.
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A drone attack from has damaged industrial facilities in the southern Russian region of Saratov. The news was conveyed by the local governor on Tuesday morning, February 11, 2025. A Ukrainian official mentioned that an oil refinery was hit in the attack.
"There are no casualties," said Saratov Governor Roman Busargin in a post on the Telegram messaging app, as quoted by Reuters on Tuesday, February 11. He provided initial details but did not identify the damaged facilities.
On the other hand, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that its air defense system had destroyed 40 Ukrainian drones overnight, 18 of which were above Saratov.
As a safety measure, the Rosaviatsia flight watchdog stated that it had suspended flights at regional airports, as well as in Kazan, Ulyanovsk, and Kirov.
Ukrainian Lieutenant Andriy Kovalenko, an official of the National Security and Defense Council, stated that the Saratov oil refinery, which supplies fuel to the Russian military, was hit.
However, Kovalenko, who heads the council's Center for Countering Disinformation, did not directly state that it was the result of the Ukrainian attack.
Russian media reported that the Saratov oil refinery belonged to the major oil company Rosneft.
Unofficial Russian Telegram channels, including the Shot channel, reported explosions and fires around the refinery.
The large fire sent thick plumes of smoke into the night sky, in video clips and photos uploaded on social media. However, Reuters could not independently verify the reports.
Kyiv often claims its airstrikes inside Russia aim to destroy infrastructure crucial to Moscow's war effort. The attacks also serve as a response to Russia's ongoing assaults on Ukraine since the start of the war nearly three years ago.
In January, a Ukrainian attack on an oil depot near a military airbase in Engels in the Saratov region sparked a fire that took days to extinguish.
Prior to this, Ukraine targeted Russian territory with missile and large-scale drone attacks in mid-January. According to officials and local media, the attacks damaged factories in at least three cities.
Source: Reuters
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