In a significant escalation, a Ukrainian drone strike on Monday targeted the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals and injuring 39 more, regional authorities in Tatarstan confirmed.
Recently, Ukraine has intensified its focus on Russian oil installations, utilizing long-range drones in almost daily attacks. This sustained campaign is contributing to fuel shortages across Russia, hampering its refining capabilities, and stirring concern among its citizens.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine asserts that these measures aim to compel Russian President Vladimir Putin into negotiations to bring an end to his protracted invasion, now surpassing four years.
The drone assault on Nizhnekamsk occurred on Monday morning, described as “massive” by Rustam Minnikhanov’s press service, the head of Tatarstan. The attack targeted both industrial and civilian areas, though additional specifics were not provided.
At present, Ukrainian officials have refrained from making any public statements regarding the incident.
Nizhnekamsk is roughly 750 miles east of the Ukrainian border and has a population of about 240,000. The city is an important oil refining hub, home to two refineries and a petrochemical plant.
Ukraine’s domestically developed long-range drones have flown increasing distances deep inside Russia, with some now reaching Siberia, around 1,200 miles from the countries’ border.
“We do deliver entirely justified responses, and every Russian strike will be met with our response. Russia’s war will be felt more and more at their own home – in Russia,” Zelensky said late Sunday on social media.
“The only reason this is still continuing is Russia’s unwillingness to end this war.”
Russia has also regularly battered Ukraine from the air using missiles, powerful glide bombs and drones, hitting civilian areas and causing thousands of civilian casualties, according to the United Nations.
The World Health Organization’s European office said Monday that one of its warehouses in the central Dnipro region of Ukraine had been struck twice in less than 24 hours.
The attacks destroyed emergency supplies worth an estimated $500,000 that were intended for front-line health facilities, it said in a statement.
No casualties were reported.