Ukraine launches nearly 300 drones against Russia overnight, oil depot and chemical plants on fire
Ukrainian drones attacked various regions across Russia overnight on March 21, resulting in fires at an oil depot in Saratov Oblast and chemical plants in Samara Oblast, according to local residents and officials.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on March 21 that overnight, Russia intercepted 283 Ukrainian drones over Bryansk, Smolensk, Kaluga, Belgorod, Voronezh, Rostov, Volgograd, Tula, Ryazan, Kursk, Saratov, Samara, and Moscow oblasts, as well as the Republic of Tatarstan and Russian-occupied Crimea.
The cities of Saratov and Engels in Saratov Oblast and Tolyatti in Samara Oblast were also targeted in the attack. The towns host key Russian military and industrial sites that have been previously targeted in Ukrainian drone strikes, including the Saratov oil refinery and Engels-2 military airfield.
Saratov Governor Roman Busargin claimed that attacks on the regional center injured two people and damaged multiple homes. Meanwhile, residents shared images and videos on social media indicating power outages in the city.
Residents also shared footage of fires near the Saratov oil refinery, according to the Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova Plus.
An independent Russian Telegram news channel, Astra, reported that overnight, residents of Tolyatti experienced a series of explosions and a fire. Based on analysis of eyewitness footage, the fire erupted near two chemical plants located close to each other, Togliattikauchuk and KuibyshevAzot.
In Russia's Bashkortostan, drones were shot down near the oil refineries in Ufa, Radium Khabirov, head of the Republic of Bashkortostan, reported on March 21.
Khabirov also claimed that two drones crashed into a building under construction in the Zaton neighborhood, setting the insulation on fire, with two construction workers sustaining minor injuries.
In Moscow Oblast, nearly 30 drones were shot down over Moscow and the surrounding region on March 20-21, according to Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these reports at the time of publication. The Ukrainian military has not commented on the alleged attacks.
Ukraine routinely targets military and industrial facilities in Russia with long-range drone strikes.
Previous operations have targeted the Engels-2 airfield, one of Russia's key strategic military bases. Located 450 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, Engels-2 is home to the 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment and the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment.
The airfield houses three types of strategic bombers regularly used in missile attacks on Ukraine: the Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160.
Kyiv has also struck the Saratov oil refinery in a number of attacks. The facility lies nearly 600 kilometers (370 miles) east of the front line in Ukraine. Owned by Russian state oil giant Rosneft, the refinery has a processing capacity of about 140,000 barrels of crude per day. It produces more than 20 petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and bitumen.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on March 21 that overnight, Russia intercepted 283 Ukrainian drones over Bryansk, Smolensk, Kaluga, Belgorod, Voronezh, Rostov, Volgograd, Tula, Ryazan, Kursk, Saratov, Samara, and Moscow oblasts, as well as the Republic of Tatarstan and Russian-occupied Crimea.
The cities of Saratov and Engels in Saratov Oblast and Tolyatti in Samara Oblast were also targeted in the attack. The towns host key Russian military and industrial sites that have been previously targeted in Ukrainian drone strikes, including the Saratov oil refinery and Engels-2 military airfield.
Saratov Governor Roman Busargin claimed that attacks on the regional center injured two people and damaged multiple homes. Meanwhile, residents shared images and videos on social media indicating power outages in the city.
Residents also shared footage of fires near the Saratov oil refinery, according to the Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova Plus.
An independent Russian Telegram news channel, Astra, reported that overnight, residents of Tolyatti experienced a series of explosions and a fire. Based on analysis of eyewitness footage, the fire erupted near two chemical plants located close to each other, Togliattikauchuk and KuibyshevAzot.
In Russia's Bashkortostan, drones were shot down near the oil refineries in Ufa, Radium Khabirov, head of the Republic of Bashkortostan, reported on March 21.
Khabirov also claimed that two drones crashed into a building under construction in the Zaton neighborhood, setting the insulation on fire, with two construction workers sustaining minor injuries.
In Moscow Oblast, nearly 30 drones were shot down over Moscow and the surrounding region on March 20-21, according to Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these reports at the time of publication. The Ukrainian military has not commented on the alleged attacks.
Ukraine routinely targets military and industrial facilities in Russia with long-range drone strikes.
Previous operations have targeted the Engels-2 airfield, one of Russia's key strategic military bases. Located 450 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, Engels-2 is home to the 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment and the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment.
The airfield houses three types of strategic bombers regularly used in missile attacks on Ukraine: the Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160.
Kyiv has also struck the Saratov oil refinery in a number of attacks. The facility lies nearly 600 kilometers (370 miles) east of the front line in Ukraine. Owned by Russian state oil giant Rosneft, the refinery has a processing capacity of about 140,000 barrels of crude per day. It produces more than 20 petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and bitumen.
