Ukraine’s drones hit Russian industrial facilities
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Ukraine has targeted industrial facilities across several regions in Russia while British forces have also moved to board a Russian vessel in the Channel.
In the Tula region, south of Moscow, Governor Dmitry Milyaev reported that debris from a downed drone fell onto the site of a chemical plant in Novomoskovsk.
Unconfirmed video footage and reports emerged on social media showing a fire, suggesting that the Asot facility, one of Russia’s largest chemical plants, was hit.
The site is important to the Russian war economy. It produces mainly fertiliser, but also components for the production of ammunition in defence industries.
The governor initially gave no details about the extent of the damage or possible health risks to the population.
In the Yaroslavl region, Governor Mikhail Yevrayev spoke of a drone attack on industrial facilities used for fuel storage. A fire broke out, but there were no injuries, he said.
The Russian Defence Ministry reported early on Sunday that a total of 249 aerial objects were shot down in various regions. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that several drone attacks had been repelled.
The capital’s Zhukovsky Airport had to be closed due to an air raid alert. Restrictions were also in place at Domodedovo Airport.
Ukraine has been fending off the full-scale Russian invasion for more than four years. In recent months, it has stepped up long-range drone attacks on industrial facilities and refineries in Russia, targeting companies that are vital to the country’s war effort.
There have been reports of shortages at petrol stations in Moscow and St Petersburg, as well as the central republic of Tatarstan.
The situation is particularly difficult on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. However, the Russian government insists that the situation is under control.
Meanwhile, British armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
The Ministry of Defence said Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency boarded a sanctioned oil tanker during a six-hour operation – the first UK-led operation of its kind.
The vessel Smyrtos will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England and be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns.
The operation was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group (Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat), an RAF P-8 aircraft, and HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
“This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling (President Vladimir) Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide,” Sir Starmer said in a statement.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said Russia relied on its shadow fleet to fund the conflict in Ukraine.
DPA