Drones attack 12 Russian oblasts, sparking fires at oil refinery and factory – videos
Russian authorities have reported a massive drone attack on several Russian oblasts on the night of 13-14 January, with local Telegram channels sharing videos of large-scale fires at an oil refinery and a factory. Twelve oblasts in the Russian Federation were attacked in total and it is claimed that air defences shot down more than 100 UAVs.
Source: Russian Telegram channels; Saratov Oblast Governor Roman Busargin; Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov; Tula Oblast Governor Dmitry Milyaev; Orel Oblast Governor Andrei Klychkov; Bryansk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz
Details: In particular, a drone attack caused damage to an industrial facility in the city of Engels in Russia’s Saratov Oblast.
This information was confirmed by Saratov Oblast Governor Roman Busargin, though he did not specify which facility had been affected.
Quote from Busargin: "There is damage to an industrial facility in Engels as a result of the UAV attack. Emergency and operational services are working intensively."
Busargin had previously referred to an "industrial facility" in relation to an oil depot struck by drones on 8 January.
Дрони атакували промислове підприємство в російському Енгельсі. Відео з Telegram-каналу Astra pic.twitter.com/xM4S5FYdTW
— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) January 14, 2025
Mikhail Isayev, acting head of the Engels district, announced that schools would conduct classes remotely due to the threat of further drone attacks.
"Administrations of institutions have been instructed to promptly deliver all the information to the parents," Isayev said.
Момент атаки БПЛА на Енгельс Саратовської області РФ і масштабна пожежа на місці удару. Відео з Telegram-каналу Astra pic.twitter.com/EfRxIx9q2R
— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) January 14, 2025
Update: Later, Busargin reported that the city of Saratov had also come under a massive drone attack.
Quote: "The attack caused damage to two industrial facilities in Saratov and Engels. Emergency services are working at all affected sites," the regional governor stated.
Russian social media channels suggest that the Saratov oil refinery, part of the Rosneft group, was likely hit.
Residents shared videos of a massive fire, with a voice in the background saying: "The Saratov oil refinery is burning after a drone attack on 14 January 2025."
Внаслідок дронової атаки також вирує пожежа у російському Саратові. Місцеві пабліки пишуть, що, ймовірно, постраждав нафтопереробний завод, який входить у групу компаній Роснефть. Відео з російських Telegram-каналів pic.twitter.com/r3in0I8PYc
— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) January 14, 2025
Russian Telegram channels reported that drones had also attacked Kazan. Citing local residents, they mentioned a large fire near the Kazanorgsintez plant. The strike reportedly targeted not the plant itself but a liquefied gas storage facility.
Kazanorgsintez, according to its website, is one of Russia's leading chemical industry businesses, producing polymers, ethylene copolymers, polycarbonates, ethanolamines and other products.
Later, Rustam Minnikhanov, Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, confirmed the attack.
Quote from Minnikhanov: "I visited the scene of the fire caused by the drone attack. Emergency services promptly arrived at the scene to extinguish the blaze."
He claimed that "there are no casualties or significant damage".
Дрони також атакували Казань у республіці Татарстан. Повідомляють про велику пожежу в районі заводу "Казань Оргсинтез". Відео з Telegram-каналу Astra pic.twitter.com/Cmf21B9SFz
— Українська правда ✌️ (@ukrpravda_news) January 14, 2025
Tula Oblast Governor Dmitry Milyaev also reported a large-scale drone attack.
Quote from Milyaev: "Tula Oblast came under a large-scale attack by Ukrainian drones last night. Air defence systems of the Russian Defence Ministry are responding. Early reports indicate that the aerial targets have been intercepted. There are no casualties and information on damages is being gathered."
Andrei Klychkov, Governor of Oryol Oblast, also reported drone attacks in his area. He claimed that 17 drones had been intercepted and insisted there was "no damage or destruction".
Bryansk Oblast experienced a heavy assault as well. Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz initially reported an attack on an industrial facility but later edited his post to remove that detail. He claimed that air defence systems had "destroyed all targets".
The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency announced the closure of airports in the Russian cities of Penza, Ulyanovsk, Kazan and Saratov.
In addition, the airports in Kaluga (Grabtsevo) and Tambov (Donskoye) were temporarily closed. However, as of the morning, restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures have been lifted.
Russian Telegram channels report that a total of 12 regions in Russia were hit by the attacks, with air defence systems reportedly downing over a hundred drones.
Background: On the night of 7-8 January, Ukraine's defence forces struck the Kombinat Kristal oil storage facility in the city of Engels in Russia's Saratov Oblast.
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