Large-scale drone attack on Russia: explosions heard in several oblasts

The Russian Defence Ministry has claimed that its air defences have intercepted and destroyed 129 Ukrainian drones since the evening of 5 January. Russian Telegram channels have reported explosions across several regions, with drones reaching as far as Bashkortostan. Fuel depots and factories supplying the Russian military have been targeted.

Source: Russian Defence Ministry; governors of several Russian oblasts; Russian Telegram channel Astra

Details: According to the ministry, the largest number of drones – 29 – were downed over Bryansk Oblast.

Other claimed interceptions include 15 drones over Belgorod Oblast, 13 over Yaroslavl Oblast, 10 over Novgorod Oblast, 9 over Smolensk Oblast, 7 over Kursk Oblast, 7 over Penza Oblast, 6 over Tver Oblast and 6 over Bashkortostan..

In addition, 5 drones have been claimed as downed over Astrakhan Oblast, 5 over Rostov Oblast, 4 over Kaluga Oblast, 2 over each of Moscow, Oryol and Leningrad oblasts and 1 over each of Voronezh, Kostroma, Tula, Tambov and Ryazan oblasts and 1 over Tatarstan. One drone was also reportedly destroyed over temporarily occupied Crimea

Lipetsk Oblast Governor Igor Artamonov confirmed an attack had taken place and reported a fire at an industrial facility, without giving further details.

"A fire broke out at an industrial facility in the Usman district following the fall of a drone. Early reports indicate there are no casualties. Emergency services are working at the scene," he said.

Astra posted that residents of Usman in Lipetsk Oblast had reported explosions and a fire at a fuel depot on the night of 5-6 January.

Public records show that the Usmanskaya Oil Depot LLC is involved in the sale, storage and transshipment of petroleum products and also provides transport services using its own vehicles.

Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported "debris falling" at a compressor station.

"Electronic warfare systems jammed a drone in the Volkhov district of Leningrad Oblast. Drone debris was recorded near the village of Berezhki, including on the grounds of the compressor station," he said.

Drozdenko added that there was no fire risk and no casualties.

Astra also reported, citing local residents, multiple explosions in the city of Yaroslavl in Yaroslavl Oblast. They occurred near Neftestroy, where oil refineries and a fuel depot are located.

Explosions were also reported in Pemza and Tver, with drones possibly targeting the Tver Carriage Works.

Drones also reached Sterlitamak in Bashkortostan, where a petrochemical plant (Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant) is located. The area has been attacked more than once.

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