Ukraine launched a drone attack on Russia on Sunday, causing a sharp decline in reactor capacity at one of Russia’s largest nuclear power plants, causing a major flame at UST-Luga’s major fuel export terminal, Reuters reported.
Despite stories of peace between Russia and Ukraine, the most lethal European war since World War II continues along the 2,000 km (1,250 miles) frontline with deep missile and drone attacks in both Russia and Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said at least 95 Ukrainian drones were intercepted in more than 12 Russian regions in Russia on the day Ukraine celebrated its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
The Kursk nuclear power plant, just 60 km (38 miles) from the Ukraine border, said air defenses would shoot down drones that exploded near plants near midnight, damaging the auxiliary transformer, reducing the operating capacity of reactor No. 3 by 50%.
The radiation levels were normal and there were no injuries from the fire that the drone was lit, the plant said. The other two reactors operate without generating electricity, one undergoes scheduled repairs.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear agency, said it was aware of reports that plant transformers had fired due to military operations, and emphasized that all nuclear facilities should be protected at all times.
At least 10 Ukrainian drones fell over the UST-Luga port in the Leningrad region of northern Russia, a thousand kilometers north of the Gulf of Finland, and shrapnel lit at a Novatek-type terminal. The local governor said.
Unverified footage from the Russian Telegram Channel showed the drone flying directly to the fuel terminal, followed by a giant ball of fire rising into the sky, followed by black smoke feathers on the horizon.
“Firemen and emergency services are currently working to eliminate the flames,” said Alexander Drosdenko, governor of Russia’s Leningrad region. He added that he was not injured.
According to Novatek (NVTK.MM), it will open a new tab at the UST-Luga Complex, which opened in 2013, and process gas condensation into light, heavy naphtha, jet fuel, fuel oil and gas il, allowing the company to ship petroleum products and gas condensation to international markets.
Novatek produces mainly naphtha for Asia, including jet fuel with delivery to China, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and Istanbul.
Russia’s Civil Aviation Authority, Rosaviatia, said flights have been suspended for hours overnight at several Russian airports, including Pulkovo in the Leningrad region.
The Samara region governor said on Sunday that the Ukrainian drones also attacked industrial companies in Sizran, a city in southern Russia. The child was injured in the attack, according to the governor. The governor did not specify exactly what was attacked.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian forces said they had attacked Sizran’s oil refinery. Rosneft owned (Rosn.mm) has opened a new tab refinery where new tab refineries were forced to halt production and coarse intake after the attack, sources told Reuters.
There were no immediate comments from Ukraine. Kiev said the strike within Russia is in response to Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine and aims to destroy infrastructure, which is deemed essential to Moscow’s overall military efforts.