Drones strike Russian regions, igniting fires at enterprises in Engels and Kazan

On the night of January 14, unidentified drones launched attacks across several regions in Russia. This led to a major fire at an industrial Engels industrial facility in the Saratov region. Residents in Kazan, Tatarstan, also reported a drone attack, which resulted in a fire at the Orgsintez plant.

The governor of the Saratov region of Russia, Roman Busargin, and Russian Telegram channels reported that.

The regional authorities confirmed both cases, assuring an hour after the explosions that all the consequences had been eliminated. At the same time, Russians continued to publish footage of large-scale fires on the network.

Engels

Saratov Telegram channels initially reported that sirens awakened residents around 4:00 a.m. local time. Shortly after, explosions were heard in the regional center and nearby Engels, with claims that "the air defense system is working." Later, reports emerged about a fire.

^{Photo: Screenshot from video / t.me/voynareal}

"A few minutes ago, eyewitnesses heard about 10 explosions over Engels. Now smoke is visible over one of the districts," Russian channels confirmed.

Warning! The video contains foul language!

Soon after, videos and photos surfaced, with eyewitnesses explaining that these showed the attacked enterprise engulfed in flames. Saratov residents shared footage of the fire across the Volga on the city's opposite bank, an area struck just a week earlier.

Governor Roman Busargin confirmed the damage to an industrial enterprise in the city and stated that emergency services are "working in an intensified mode."

An hour later, locals complained on Telegram channels that sirens were heard again in Saratov and Engels.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced the temporary closure of Saratov's Gagarin airport for flights. The local administration also announced that schools would switch to distance learning due to the threat of a UAV attack.

The fire in Engels continued to intensify.

Kazan

Meanwhile, media outlets in Tatarstan reported that "Ukraine's armed forces attempted an attack" on the Orgsintez plant in Kazan, which officially produces organic synthesis products. Residents noted a significant fire had broken out, with smoke visible from various parts of the city.

"The debris of the UAV fell on the territory of a chemical industry enterprise; a fire broke out there. Rescuers are currently working on the site," the Russians claimed, publishing footage of the large-scale fire.

The authorities in the Republic of Tatarstan confirmed that there was indeed damage. They reported that at 5:20 a.m. on the outskirts of Kazan, a UAV attack caused "a gas tank to catch fire." No injuries were reported, and emergency services quickly arrived on the scene to "address the aftermath."

The enterprise is the only Russian manufacturer of "polycarbonates, sevilen, metallocene polyethylene – high-strength plastics, as well as one of the country's largest producers of high- and low-density polyethylene."

Tula region

In the Tula region of the aggressor country, Russia, on the evening of January 13, residents complained about explosions allegedly related to a drone attack. Loud noises were reported in both Tula and the Aleksyn district.

According to the Russians, the region was allegedly attacked by "dozens of drones."

Russian propagandists claimed that air defense forces were operating in the Tula region.

"Preliminarily, there is a drone attack, the air defense system is working. According to eyewitnesses, the drones were destroyed in the Aleksyn district. There is no official information yet," one of the channels said in a statement.

^{Explosions heard in Tula region of Russia: reports of a massive drone attack. Video}

The head of the region, Dmitry Milyaev, confirmed the information about the massive drone attack. According to him, there were no casualties.

Strike drones also attacked Rostov region. It is reported that 14 drones were counted.

In addition, Kotovsk, Tambov region, was attacked by three drones. Details are not yet known.

Voronezh experienced much noise overnight, with reports of explosions. However, no further details were provided.

17 Ukrainian drones were allegedly shot down over the Oryol region.

For reference:

In 2024, oil refineries and fuel bases in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine were subjected to at least 81 attacks, and oil facilities in the southern regions of the Russian Federation suffered most often.

One of the most significant incidents in late 2024 was a drone attack on the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery, which caused a massive fire. The plant near the Ukrainian border was key in supplying fuel to Russian military equipment. It was shut down at least thrice in 2024, and it is unknown whether production has resumed after the latest attack.

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