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Ukraine has denied Russian accusations that a Ukrainian drone struck the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Russian-occupied territory, as Kyiv's forces carried out fresh overnight attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian General Staff said it had struck the Saratov oil refinery in southwestern Russia, causing a large-scale fire, and also hit the Lazarevo oil-pumping station in the Kirov region, more than 1,200 kilometres from Ukrainian-controlled land.

Coverage comparison

The details of the strikes were reported consistently across multiple outlets. Al Jazeera noted that Ukrainian drones struck energy and industrial targets across several Russian regions, including the Saratov oil refinery, which suffered damage to civilian infrastructure. France 24 and The Hindu both reported that the refinery belongs to Russia's state oil enterprise, Rosneft, and produces diesel and gasoline among other fuels. Both also carried the Ukrainian General Staff's statement that the refinery has been supplying Moscow's war effort, though they noted that the extent of the damage was still being clarified.

In addition to the Saratov refinery, drone debris set fire to a fuel depot in the southwestern Rostov region, according to local Governor Yuriy Slyusar, who said residents of nearby homes were evacuated. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed its forces were behind the strike on the facility in the town of Matveev Kurgan, and local authorities reported a large-scale fire across a wide area.

Ukraine also struck the Lazarevo pumping station in the Kirov region, northeast of Moscow. The station helps ship Russian oil from Siberia to Belarus, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. Local Governor Alexander Sokolov said drones had hit a facility in the region but gave no further details.

Russian authorities in the Belgorod, Voronezh, and Rostov regions, all of which border Ukraine, also reported strikes. Al Jazeera reported that three civilians were injured in Belgorod. The Hindu added that a truck driver died in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region as drones hit a parking lot, a detail not present in other reports.

In a separate development, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine received a new Iris-T air defence missile launcher from Germany, as he asked allies for more air defence ammunition. This was reported by Al Jazeera.

Key claims

  • Ukraine's General Staff confirmed it struck the Saratov oil refinery, a Rosneft facility producing diesel and gasoline, and the Lazarevo oil-pumping station in the Kirov region.
  • Drone debris caused a fire at a fuel depot in the Rostov region, and Ukrainian forces were confirmed behind a strike at a facility in Matveev Kurgan.
  • Russian authorities reported civilian infrastructure damage and three injuries in Belgorod, while a truck driver died in Chernihiv region due to drone strikes on a parking lot.
  • Ukraine denied Moscow's claim that a Ukrainian drone struck the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The United Nations nuclear agency confirmed that a drone had hit the plant, but radiation levels remain normal, according to reports.
  • President Zelenskyy announced receipt of a new Iris-T air defence missile launcher from Germany.

Perspectives

Ukraine

The Ukrainian military denied striking the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, calling Moscow's accusation a "propaganda ploy." Kyiv confirmed attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, arguing that the energy sector both funds and directly fuels Russia's invasion.

Russia

Russian officials reported extensive drone strikes across multiple regions, including Saratov, Kirov, Rostov, Voronezh, and Belgorod, and accused Ukraine of hitting civilian infrastructure. Moscow also claimed a Ukrainian drone struck the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, a charge Kyiv denied.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The UN nuclear agency confirmed that a drone had hit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, though radiation levels at the site remain normal, according to reports from France 24 and The Hindu.