Moscow's oil refinery and power station are currently ablaze.
With a significant drone assault beyond the border region, Ukraine once again attacks Russia's energy provision. In Moscow, a blaze erupted at an oil refinery, and explosions were reported at a power plant situated northwest of the capital.
Russian media reports confirmed massive Ukrainian drone strikes hitting an oil refinery in Moscow and two power plants. The Kapotnya refinery in the city's southeast experienced a severe fire, as reported by the fire department, classifying it as the hardest difficulty level. Confirmations of attacks on a power plant on Moscow's southern outskirts and a power plant in the Tver region, about 100 kilometers northeast of the capital, have been made official.
Reports from unverified Russian internet media suggest additional fires at these facilities. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported debris from drones falling in the Moscow area via Telegram.
The Ministry of Defense reported 158 drones being obliterated by air defense, the highest number yet of drones downed in a single Ukrainian drone attack. The precise quantity of drones fired by Ukraine at targets within Russia remains unclear. So far, no casualties have resulted from the drone attack. Russia tends to understate the overall damage caused by Ukrainian attacks.
Sobyanin indicated on Telegram that at least nine drones were intercepted and destroyed within Moscow and its vicinity. Numerous drones targeted the Moscow refinery, resulting in a fire in a "discrete technical area" of the facility. The refinery is owned by Gazprom Neft, the oil subsidiary of Russian gas titan Gazprom, located in the southeast of Moscow. Gazprom Neft refused to comment.
Targeted Power Plants
The Ukrainian Army attempted to attack the Kaschira power plant located in the Moscow area with three drones, reported Mikhail Shvyalov, Kaschira district's administrator, on Telegram. The city of Kaschira, 100 kilometers south of the capital, Moscow, remains unaffected. "Power supply is functioning as expected."
In the Tver region northwest of Moscow, loud explosions were reported near the Konakovo power plant, according to the pro-Russian intelligence service's linked channel, Basa. Tver Governor, Igor Rudenya, said there was a fire in Konakovo; however, he did not specify the cause. Rudenya announced that the power and gas supply had not been interrupted. The Konakovo power plant is one of the largest power generators in the Central Russia region, encompassing Moscow and Tver, along with the Oblasts of Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, and Voronezh, which border Ukraine.
Bryansk Governor, Alexander Bogomaz, described a "massive" drone attack. "Our defenders are repelling a major drone attack on the Bryansk region territory," Bogomaz wrote on Telegram. Governors from Kursk, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Ryazan, and Tula also announced intercepted and destroyed Ukrainian drones. These regions lie between the frontiers and Moscow, constituting part of Central Russia. According to the Ministry of Defense, 46 drones were intercepted and destroyed over Kursk, 34 over Bryansk, 28 over Voronezh, and 14 over Belgorod.
Ukrainian forces have relentlessly targeted Russia's energy infrastructure and oil refineries. Moreover, on August 6, Ukraine unexpectedly invaded the Russian region of Kursk, bordering Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian forces have been making steady progress on the eastern front, particularly in the Donetsk region.
The Kyiv government is urging the US to permit it to utilize weapons supplied by allies to attack deep within Russia. Concurrently, Ukraine has substantially increased drone production and attacks on Russia, focusing on its energy, military, and transportation infrastructure, crucial to its war efforts. The Ukrainian government now aims to utilize more powerful Western weapons to cause more destruction.
Following the Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's energy infrastructure, the European Union expressed concern over the escalating tensions. The European Union strongly condemned any attacks breaching international borders and demanded an immediate ceasefire.
In response to Ukraine's continuous drone strikes on Russian power plants, including the one in Tver region, Russia escalated its air defense measures within its border region.
