Ukrainian troops launched a drone strike at an oil refinery in southern Russia overnight, burning fires in a fuel complex in the Astrahhan region.
The attack is the latest in a series of air strikes by Russia and Ukraine against critical energy infrastructure. Regional Governor Igor Babushkin confirmed that refinery staff had evacuated before the attack despite one being injured and taken to the hospital.
The escalation of hostilities comes as Ukraine criticized Russia for rejecting the 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States without prerequisites. Meanwhile, Moscow launched nearly 200 retaliatory barrages of drones in Ukraine. The Ukrainian air defense team was able to intercept 90 drones, including the Iran-made Shahd model.
In southern Ukraine, drone attacks caused power outages of about 500 people in the ODESA area. Gov. Oleg Kiper reported that the attack also caused damage to several buildings, including preschoolers, and caused one injured person. The ongoing conflict continues to affect both countries, with energy facilities and civilian infrastructure taking a major blow.
