Ukraine launches massive drone attack across Russia

Moscow warns risk of major nuclear’ clash is growing

- JABED AHMED

Ukraine says it has struck a Russian oil refinery and a microchip factory in a huge drone attack that caused fires at the refinery's production facilities and an oil pumping station.

Other drones targeted numerous regions, including 20 in the Ryazan region, southeast of Moscow, the Russian defence ministry said. Russian war blogger channels on the Telegram messaging app posted videos of what they described as large blazes in the city. They said an oil storage depot and a power station had been hit.

The Ukrainian military said on Facebook that fires had broken out at the damaged refinery’s production facilities and an oil pumping station but did not make clear how serious the damage was.

Ukraine’s military said it had also struck the Kremniy El microelectronics plant in Russia‘s Bryansk region, which Kyiv said produced components for Russian air defence missile systems, nuclear-capable missiles, and onboard electronics for combat aircraft.

Russia’s defence ministry claimed it had intercepted 121 drones targeting 13 regions, adding six drones had been destroyed over the Moscow region and one over the capital itself. The ministry did not disclose the extent of the damages or casualties.

The overnight strikes underline Ukraine’s ability to hit targets deep inside Russia as the two sides try to strengthen their positions before any peace talks get underway following Donald Trump’s return to the White House.