Unmanned aerial vehicles strike Moscow's oil refinery and power station.
Under Russian reports, a substantial drone assault beyond the border area targeted Ukraine towards Russia's energy supplies once again. A blaze erupted at a Moscow oil refinery, and apparent detonations were observed at a power plant situated northwest of the capital.
As per Russian media, Ukrainian drone attacks hit an oil refinery in Moscow and two power plants. The Kapotnya refinery in the southeastern capital saw a fire, which firefighters managed to put out, according to the state news agency TASS. Attacks on a power plant on Moscow's southern outskirts and a power plant in the Tver region, located about 100 kilometers northeast of the city, have been officially confirmed.
Unverified videos published on Russian internet platforms suggest that fires have also occurred at these facilities. Debris from drones was found in the Moscow area, as announced by Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Telegram.
The Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems had destroyed 158 drones, the highest number reported for a Ukrainian drone attack thus far. However, it remains unclear how many drones Ukraine actually launched at Russian targets. There have been no reported injuries from the drone attack. Russia typically keeps the true extent of damage caused by Ukrainian attacks hidden.
Sobyanin wrote on Telegram that at least nine drones had been intercepted and destroyed in Moscow and its vicinity. Several drones aimed for the Moscow refinery, causing a fire in a separate technical room of the facility, which is being extinguished. The refinery is owned by Gazprom Neft, the oil subsidiary of Russian gas giant Gazprom, and is positioned in the southeastern part of Moscow. Gazprom Neft refused to comment.
Power Plants Under Attack
The Ukrainian military attempted to attack the Kaschira power plant in Moscow Oblast using three drones, according to Mikhail Shvyalov, the head of Kaschira district administration on Telegram. No fires or casualties occurred. "Power supply is uninterrupted." The city of Kaschira is situated about a hundred kilometers south of the capital, Moscow.
In the Tver Oblast, located northwest of Moscow, loud explosions were reported nearby the Konakovo power plant, according to the Baza Telegram channel, close to Russian security services. Governor Igor Rudenya said a fire occurred in the city of Konakovo. He did not specify what caught fire. He added that power and gas supplies had not been disrupted. The power plant is one of the most significant power generators in central Russia, which includes Moscow and Tver Oblasts, as well as Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, and Voronezh Oblasts, bordering Ukraine.
Governor Describes "Massive" Drone Attack
Bryansk's governor, Alexander Bogomaz, noted a "massive" drone attack. "Our defenders are repelling a massive drone attack on the Bryansk region's territory," Bogomaz stated on Telegram. The governors of Kursk, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Ryazan, and Tula also reported that Ukrainian drones had been intercepted and destroyed. These Oblasts are located between the border regions and Moscow and also belong to central Russia. According to the Defense Ministry, 46 drones were intercepted and destroyed over Kursk, 34 over Bryansk, 28 over Voronezh, and 14 over Belgorod.
The Ukrainian military has frequently targeted Russia's energy infrastructure and oil refineries. On August 6, it also launched a sudden assault on the Russian region of Kursk, which borders Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian forces have gradually advanced in the eastern front, primarily in Donetsk's Ukrainian region, for months.
The government in Kyiv has urged the U.S. to allow it to utilize the weapons provided by allies to strike deep inside Russia. At the same time, Ukraine has significantly increased its drone production and intensified its attacks on Russia, focusing on energy, military, and transportation infrastructure, which are vital for Russia's war efforts. The Ukrainian government now aims to employ more potent Western weapons to inflict higher damage.
Given the context, here are two sentences that contain the phrase 'The European Union':
The Ukrainian government has urged the European Union to impose more sanctions on Russia due to its actions in Ukraine. The European Union, despite the urging, has been cautious in its response, citing the potential impact on energy supplies and European economies.
