Massive drone attack targets 11 regions of Russia, including Moscow and occupied Crimea
Photo: illustrative/Associated Press
The Russian Defense Ministry said that on the night of January 24, 11 regions of the Russian Federation, Moscow, and the temporarily occupied Crimea were attacked by 121 drones. Among the targets of the attack was an oil refinery in the Ryazan region.
The Russian Defense Ministry and Russian Telegram channels reported this.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported the destruction of 121 drones. The largest number of drones was shot down over the territory of the Bryansk region — 37 drones.
"Last night, 121 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted and destroyed by regular air defense systems," the report said.
The Russian department claimed their air defense successfully shot down:
- 20 over Ryazan
- 17 over Kursk and Saratov
- 7 over the Rostov region
- 6 over Moscow and Belgorod regions
- 3 over the Voronezh region
- 2 over Tula, Lipetsk, and Oryol regions
- 1 over Moscow
- 1 over occupied Crimea
According to the Mash resource, locals in the Ryazan region reported a fire at the Novo-Ryazan thermal power plant and the local oil refinery. The initial cause is believed to be falling debris from drones.
Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, claims that strategic Russian facilities were targeted in the region, including the oil refinery.
This refinery is a major player in the Russian oil industry, supplying fuel to both civilian and military-industrial complexes.
Attention, foul language!
In the Saratov region, the targets included the Engels oil refinery, where locals reported hearing at least seven explosions, and the Kremniy plant in Bryansk.
Kovalenko says that the Kremniy plant was still attacked.
It produces microelectronics for missile systems, Pantsir air defense systems, Iskander missiles, as well as radar and electronic warfare systems and Russian UAVs.
Several airports were temporarily suspended due to the attack.
photo: baza
Restrictions were implemented at Kazan, Nizhniy Kamsk, Penza, Samara, and Saratov airports.
The official statement didn't specify the reasons for these restrictions, but Russian media suggested they were due to the threat of drone attacks.
Later, it was reported that restrictions were also applied to the Ufa airport. Some airports resumed operations at 6:56 a.m. Kyiv time.
For reference:
On the night of January 21, the Ukrainian Defense Forces launched a drone strike on several vital facilities in Russia; in particular, they hit an oil depot in the Voronezh region and an aircraft factory near Smolensk.
It is worth mentioning that on the night of January 16, a series of explosions were heard in the Tambov region of Russia near Kotovsk and the village of Kuzmino-Gat, where a gunpowder plant is located. Air defense systems were operating in the area. Also, in the Voronezh region of the Russian Federation, local authorities reported an attack by drones on an oil depot.
In addition, on the night of January 14, the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out the most massive strike on military facilities of the Russian army at a distance of 200 to 1,100 km deep into Russian territory. In particular, targets in the Bryansk, Saratov, Tula regions, and the Republic of Tatarstan were attacked.
The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces reported a successful attack on the "Kristal Plant" oil storage facility in Engels, Saratov region. This comes shortly after a fire from a previous strike, which had been burning for five days, was finally extinguished.
The Bryansk Chemical Plant in Seltso was also hit. According to the General Staff, this is a strategic facility of the Russian military-industrial complex. It produces ammunition for artillery, multiple-launch rocket systems, aviation, engineering ammunition, and components for the Kh-59 cruise missiles.
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