Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks yet on Russian territory early Thursday, targeting industrial and energy facilities in the southern city of Volgograd and killing at least one person, according to Russian officials.
The Russian Defence Ministry said 75 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight, including 49 over the Volgograd region.
Despite those interceptions, local authorities confirmed that several drones reached their targets, sparking a major fire in an industrial zone in the city’s Krasnoarmeysk district.
Volgograd Governor Andrei Bocharov said a 48-year-old man was killed by shrapnel from the explosions. The affected district hosts several key industrial installations, including Lukoil’s major Volgograd refinery, which has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian drones since the start of the year.
The refinery processed about 13.7 million metric tons of oil in 2024, roughly 5.1% of Russia’s total refining capacity.
Russian media reported that the attack caused temporary suspensions at 13 airports across the country, as authorities imposed airspace restrictions to counter further threats.
Ukraine has intensified drone and missile strikes on Russian oil infrastructure in recent months, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s energy revenues and logistics networks as Russian forces push deeper into eastern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Russia said its troops were advancing north of Pokrovsk in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, seeking to consolidate control of the strategic city.
Russian military officials claim to now control about 19% of Ukrainian territory, approximately 116,000 square kilometers, while pro-Ukrainian sources estimate that Russia has gained over 3,400 square kilometers in 2025 alone.
The escalation underscores how both sides are increasingly relying on long-range strikes and attritional warfare, with Ukraine striking inside Russia as Moscow presses its ground offensive in the east.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
