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A massive plume of black smoke rose over the Russian city of Yaroslavl after Ukraine carried out long-range strikes on two oil refineries, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky said the targeted facilities were located in Bashkortostan and Yaroslavl, marking another wave of Ukrainian attacks on key Russian energy infrastructure. Footage and images from Yaroslavl showed thick clouds of smoke billowing into the sky following the strike.
Local authorities described the incident as unprecedented. The regional governor of Yaroslavl called it the “largest ever attack by enemy drones,” claiming that 93 drones were intercepted. However, falling debris reportedly struck oil storage tanks, triggering the fire and smoke.
Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had destroyed a total of 605 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, including Yaroslavl, in one of the largest aerial engagements of the conflict.
The latest strikes come amid an intensified Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian refineries, fuel depots, and logistics hubs in recent weeks, aimed at disrupting supply chains.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, Russian drone attacks continued to take a toll on civilians. Officials reported at least six deaths, including three people killed in a residential area, two at a railway station, and another in an attack on a ship carrying wheat near the port city of Odesa.