Russia Factories, Oil Terminals Hit in Massive Drone-Missile Attack

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone and missile barrage overnight, damaging factories, a chemical plant and a gas tank in Russia, according to local reports.

Newsweek reached out to the foreign ministries of Russia and Ukraine for comment via email on Tuesday.

Why It Matters

Ukraine has attempted to target facilities in Russia that play a role in facilitating the country’s war efforts, which began in February 2022.

The Kremlin has accused Ukraine of attempting to carry out terrorist attacks using drones on Russian soil. Kyiv maintains that it is striking military targets, such as ammunition depots and warehouses, as well as oil hubs and refineries, which play a role Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Tuesday’s attack is reported to be the largest by Ukraine so far this year.

Ukrainian drone in Lviv — The Ukrainian military learning to fly drones with bombs attached on May 12, 2023, in the Lviv region of Ukraine. Ukraine has used drones and missiles to target facilities in Russia that play a role…

Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

What to Know

Ukraine’s latest missile and drone attack targeted 12 Russian regions, including Oryol, Saratov, Voronezh, Sumy and Tula, as well as the Republic of Tatarstan, local officials said.

Roman Busargin, governor of Saratov, reported damage at industrial facilities in the Engels district, where schools were closed for in-person classes on Tuesday. An oil depot was also targeted in the attack, according to a local Telegram channel. There were no reported casualties.

Russian air defense systems shot down a “large number” of drones, the governor said.

Attacks were also reported in the city of Kazan in the Republic of Tatarstan, where a Gazprom-owned gas tank was damaged, a local Telegram channel said, reporting “a powerful fire on the territory.”

Tatarstan head Rustam Minnikhanov said emergency services arrived promptly to extinguish the blaze. There were no casualties reported or serious damage caused.

Telegram channel Shot said a Ukrainian drone also attempted to attack an aircraft manufacturing plant in Kazan.

The ASTRA Telegram channel, a project run by independent Russian journalists, said Ukraine targeted and damaged a chemical plant in Bryansk—potentially using a long-range ATACMS missile. Newsweek couldn’t independently verify the report.

In total, 14 drones were downed in the Rostov Region; 17 in Oryol; 16 in Tula; 15 in Samara; four in Kursk; three in the border regions of Belgorod and Bryansk; two in Krasnodar; and one in the Volgograd and Voronezh regions.

The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency said airports were temporarily closed in Kazan, Kaluga, Saratov, Tambov, Ulyanovsk, and Penza.

Russia also launched a large-scale aerial attack on Ukraine overnight, the country’s Air Force said.

What People Are Saying

Andriy Kovalenko, an official with Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said on Telegram: “The Bryansk chemical plant. It specializes in the production of gunpowder; solid propellant components for rocket fuel; explosives. It is important for the production of artillery ammunition and missiles for the Russian army. This enterprise is one of the key elements of the Russian military industry.”

Roman Busargin, governor of Russia’s Saratov region, on Telegram: “There is damage at an industrial facility in Engels as a result of the UAV attack. Emergency and operational services are working intensively.”

Mikhail Isayev, acting head of the Saratov’s Engels district, on Telegram: “Due to the threat of a drone attack, classes in schools will be held remotely. Administrations of institutions have been instructed to promptly deliver all the information to the parents.”

Rustam Minnikhanov, head of the Republic of Tatarstan: “I visited the scene of a fire caused by a drone attack. Emergency services promptly arrived at the scene to extinguish the blaze.”

Dmitry Milyaev, governor of the Tula region, on Telegram: “Tula Oblast came under a large-scale attack by Ukrainian drones last night. Air defense systems of the Russian Defence Ministry are responding. Early reports indicate that the aerial targets have been intercepted.”