Ukrainian drones attack oil depot and gunpowder plant in Russia

A powerful fire broke out at an oil depot in the city of Klintsy, Bryansk Oblast, Russia, due to a drone attack. Drones also targeted the Tambov Powder Plant.

Russian authorities reported it as an alleged attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which turned out to be "unsuccessful," Rubryka reports, citing the governor of Bryansk Oblast, Aleksandr Bogomaz, the Russian Ministry of Defense, and the Telegram channel Shot.

RBC-Ukraine reported, citing sources in the security services, that both incidents are said to be successful operations by the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that a drone was allegedly destroyed in the Bryansk Oblast by night and traditionally blamed Ukraine for the attack.

The regional governor said that there was an attempted attack on facilities in the city of Klintsy. Bogomaz claimed the drone was eliminated by electronic warfare (EW) means, but it managed to drop an explosive device onto the oil depot.

According to him, reservoirs caught fire, but there were no casualties. Meanwhile, videos of a significant fire at the oil depot accompanied by heavy smoke are circulating online.

Drones also attacked the Tambov Powder Plant in Russia around 4:00, according to Russian Telegram channels. "A drone fell on the site near the powder mixing shop. There were no casualties or damage, but the staff was evacuated for safety," the Shot channel reported.

Incidents at this plant are not new. On the night of November 11, 2023, explosions happened at the Kotovsk Powder Plant in Tambov Oblast, Russia, followed by a fire. Russian media reported a fire area of about 300 square meters, which took at least one and a half hours to extinguish.

Also, on June 20, in the city of Kotovsk, Tambov Oblast, Russia, an explosion occurred at a powder plant. After the explosion, a fire broke out in the building. At that time, Russian media reported five deaths and 12 injuries. The Governor of Tambov Oblast, Maksim Egorov, stated that the cause of the explosion at the plant was human error, ruling out terrorism.

The Tambov Powder Plant is one of the largest Russian producers of gunpowder for small arms and artillery ammunition. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine started, pro-Kremlin media reported a 34% increase in production at the plant since January 2023. Since then, the plant has been part of the state corporation "Rostec."

Attack on a Russian oil depot in St. Petersburg

On January 18, Russia claimed a so-called "attempted attack" on an oil depot in St. Petersburg. According to information from the Russian republics, a UAV allegedly crashed and exploded on the territory of the oil depot. Traditionally, Russia downplayed the aftermath of attacks.

Sources in intelligence services confirmed the attack as a successful special operation by the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence. The source claimed there was evidence of hits on targets.

Drones attacked the oil and gas company "St. Petersburg Oil Terminal," the largest Russian terminal for transshipment of petroleum products in the Baltic region.

Russians also complain that drones supposedly reached Leningrad Oblast for the first time, which is located 800 km directly from the border with Ukraine. According to sources, this is not the first time this has happened, and they added that there were "differences and the enemy felt them."

Ukraine's Minister of Strategic Industries, Oleksandr Kamishyn, stated that the drones used in the attack on the oil depot in the Leningrad Oblast were of Ukrainian origin.

According to sources, one of the drones flew over the residence of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Valdai during the attack.