Russian border province leaders reported that Ukrainian UAVs were used to attack energy infrastructure, resulting in a large fire at an oil refinery. This was part of a larger series of overnight attacks using unmanned aerial vehicles. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian air defense successfully intercepted and destroyed eight Ukrainian UAVs in different provinces. However, the exact number of aircraft deployed by Ukraine is unknown.
Vasily Anokhin, governor of Smolensk province, confirmed that Ukrainian UAVs targeted the area but did not specify the number. The attacks caused fires at energy facilities in Smolensk and Yartsevsky districts, but thankfully, there were no injuries or fatalities. Witness reports and videos showed a large fire at an oil refinery in Smolensk province as a result of the attacks.
Governors in other provinces also reported incidents involving Ukrainian UAVs. Ukraine has been increasing its deployment of large-scale UAV attacks against Russian energy infrastructure. Recent attacks on Moscow’s territory have caused explosions and civilian casualties. Ukrainian forces seem to be upgrading and enhancing their use of drones for these attacks, targeting Russia’s energy facilities to disrupt supplies and damage the export industry.
Western experts believe that these attacks are aimed at Moscow’s economic lifeline, leaving Russia vulnerable in the event of a conflict. Ukraine’s UAV attacks are becoming more sophisticated, with a recent deep attack on a UAV factory in Tatarstan. Some reports suggest that Ukrainian forces have equipped the drones with artificial intelligence technology to overcome electronic jamming.