Ukraine Launches Major Drone Strikes on Russian Power Plants and Refineries

Ukraine launched a series of sustained drone attacks targeting power stations and refinery facilities in Russia’s Moscow and Tver regions, according to reports from Russian officials and media on Sunday. The attacks led to the destruction of dozens of drones across various regions of the country.

The Baza Telegram news channel, known for its close ties to Russia’s security services, reported that loud explosions were heard near the Konakovo Power Station in the Tver region, a significant energy producer in central Russia. Tver Governor Igor Rudenya confirmed that five drones were intercepted and destroyed in the region northwest of Moscow, though he did not comment on any potential damage.

In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that a Ukrainian drone targeting the Moscow Oil Refinery was neutralized. He assured that the refinery, which is operated by Gazprom Neft, the oil subsidiary of Russian energy giant Gazprom, suffered no damage, and its production processes were unaffected.

Further attacks were reported in the Moscow region, where three drones attempted to strike the Kashira Power Plant. Mikhail Shuvalov, head of the Kashira city district, stated that there were no fires, damages, or casualties resulting from the attack, and that electricity supply remained uninterrupted.

In total, at least nine drones were destroyed in Moscow and the surrounding area, according to Mayor Sobyanin’s Telegram post. Additionally, 26 drones were reportedly downed in the Bryansk region in southwest Russia, as stated by the region’s governor, Alexander Bogomaz. Other regions, including Voronezh, Kursk, Lipetsk, Ryazan, and Tula, also reported successful interceptions of drones, with no injuries or damage reported so far.

Despite these attacks, Russia has been reluctant to disclose the full extent of the damage caused by Ukraine’s air strikes. Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the incidents. Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to push for permission to use Western-supplied weapons for deeper strikes into Russian territory, arguing that more powerful armaments are essential to weakening Russia’s war capabilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s senior officials were recently in Washington, seeking to enhance the country’s defense capabilities. Zelenskiy emphasized the need for advanced weaponry to fully protect Ukraine, which has been under Russian invasion since February 2022.