A Ukrainian drone strike deep inside Russian territory has resulted in at least 13 deaths, according to local officials. The attack targeted the Russian republic of Tatarstan, specifically hitting the city of Nizhnekamsk, which is located more than 1,100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
Among the fatalities, officials confirmed that one child was killed and 75 other individuals sustained injuries. The Uzbekistan consulate in Tatarstan reported that seven of the deceased were citizens of Uzbekistan.
This incident marks one of the deadliest single attacks on Russian soil since the onset of the full-scale conflict in 2022. According to the Russian news agency RIA, a significant number of the victims were staying in a hostel at the time of the strike.
Russia’s Investigative Committee stated that the drones struck an area where civilians not involved in military operations were present.
The strike reportedly lasted several hours, spanning from overnight into the following morning. Verified social media footage captured large plumes of smoke and flames, accompanied by the sound of air raid sirens.
Ukraine's Armed Forces identified the target as the Tanevo oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk. This facility had previously been targeted on 12 June. Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation, stated that the facilities targeted by Kyiv are used to support Russia's war effort, manufacture weapons, and facilitate attacks against Ukraine.
Kovalenko further commented that civilian deaths in Russia are the responsibility of President Vladimir Putin, asserting that without the initial aggression, these individuals would still be alive.
In response to the attack, the head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, offered his condolences to the families of those killed, while Nizhnekamsk Mayor Radmir Belayev described the loss of life as a tremendous pain for the community. Moscow has vowed that those involved in the attacks will face severe and inevitable punishment.
Russian officials reported that more than 450 Ukrainian drones were intercepted by air defences across the country overnight. Additionally, authorities in the Tyumen region of Siberia reported that falling drones caused fires at an industrial facility.
Kyiv has increasingly utilized long-range drone strikes to target energy infrastructure and warehouses within Russia. Conversely, Moscow continues to launch large-scale aerial assaults on Ukrainian cities, including a recent drone and missile strike on Kyiv that resulted in 21 deaths.
