Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces struck a Rosneft oil depot in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast early on 16 January, causing a major fire at the facility, according to official Ukrainian military statements.
“The operation followed careful preparation and planning by Special Operations Forces,” the Ukrainian military’s Special Operations Forces said in their report.
Voronezh Oblast Governor Alexander Gusev said on the morning of 16 January that more than 10 drones had struck an oil depot in the oblast overnight. The drones penetrated protective netting that had been installed on storage tanks at the facility in the Liski district.
Dozens of vehicles and two fire trains were deployed to extinguish the fire at the oil depot. Emergency workers continued their efforts throughout the night.
Multiple fuel tanks are still burning at the Liskinskaya depot in Liski, military officials report.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claims it intercepted 27 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions – 15 over Belgorod, seven over Voronezh, three over Tambov and two over Kursk.
The strike marks an escalation in Ukraine’s drone campaign. Ukrainian forces reportedly hit over 54,000 Russian targets in December 2024, with kamikaze drones conducting nearly half the attacks.
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