Russian officials reported that Russian oil storage tanks were ablaze overnight after being hit in a drone attack.
Additionally, Ukrainian forces reportedly shot down 10 drones launched by Russia overnight. Although Ukraine did not claim responsibility for the oil tank attack in the town of Azov, situated in Russia’s southern Rostov region, Kyiv has conducted similar strikes previously.
Moreover, Kyiv has asserted that targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure undermines Moscow’s war effort.
“According to preliminary data, there are no casualties,” Rostov governor Vasily Golubev wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Russia’s emergency services ministry deployed 200 firefighters to combat the blaze, which had spread to over 3,200 square meters.
The Rostov region, where the incident occurred, is situated directly across the border from Ukraine. Azov, the town affected by the attack, is located on the Don River, approximately 16 kilometers away from the Sea of Azov.
Russian drone attack
Ukraine’s air force announced that it successfully destroyed 10 drones launched by Russia overnight, with the drones being targeted over Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine.
Additionally, Ukrainian military forces reported engaging in combat with Russian forces on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, located in the eastern Donetsk region.
According to Ukraine’s military briefing, the enemy’s efforts to advance towards the micro-district Novy in Chasiv Yar were being actively resisted, with ongoing fighting in the area.
In his daily address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the progress of Ukrainian troops against Russian forces on the front lines.
He mentioned receiving reports of advancements from “Pokrovsk and other directions in the Donetsk region, as well as the Kharkiv region,” indicating that Ukrainian forces were gradually pushing the occupier out of the Kharkiv region.
Zelenskyy also emphasized the significance of drones in the conflict, underscoring their role in monitoring and combat operations.
“Drones are the technological component in which we should have an advantage. And we will. In some types of unmanned systems, Ukrainians are already a global leader,” he said. “This is also evident in our negotiations with our partners – many are interested in the experience our warriors already have and in the equipment we produce in Ukraine.”
