Ukraine launches “massive” drone attacks inside Russia, officials say

Ukraine carried out “massive” drone strikes in several regions of Russia overnight, local officials said, in what appears to be one of the largest recent attacks in Kiev’s campaign to cripple Russia’s war machine on its territory.

The attacks, most of which occurred in southwestern Russia, were the latest in a series that demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to strike deep into the country, even as Kiev’s forces face setbacks on its territory.

Officials in those regions said that explosions were reported in the Bryansk border region, and drones also targeted areas further afield, such as Saratov and Tula in western Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that Ukraine had fired more than 140 missiles DronesIn addition to American-made long-range missiles known as ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles provided by Britain.

The ministry added, “These actions undertaken by the Kiev regime, with the support of Western officials, will not go unanswered.” He said in a statement.

The Ukrainian military did not immediately comment on the strikes. But the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security, a government agency, said seven regions in Russia were attacked and that targets included military production plants as well as oil and gas facilities.

The threat forced at least six cities to restrict their airspace on Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the Russian Federal Aviation Agency. Among those cities were the cities of Saratov and Engels, which were attacked during the night.

Two industrial facilities were damaged, according to Roman F. Busargin, Governor of the Saratov Region, He wrote on a telegram. “Today Saratov and Engels were subjected to a massive drone attack,” he said, using another name for drones. “Air defenses destroyed a large number of targets.”

This is the second time in a week that Ingels, the site of some of Russia’s nuclear-capable long-range bombers, has been attacked. Emergency crews recently put out a large fire that broke out Strike on January 8th.

Mr. Bosarg He said Schools and classrooms in Engels and Saratov will be closed It will be held remotely on Tuesday.

Likewise, authorities in the Tula region in western Russia confirmed a drone attack, which they also described as massive. Dmitry F. Mileyev, regional governor, He said Air defenses shot down 16 drones, and falling debris damaged some cars and buildings. There were no injuries.

And local media in the city of Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan in southwestern Russia, I mentioned An oil tanker that was at a liquefied natural gas base was hit, causing a major fire.

President of the Republic Rustam N. Minnikhanov He wrote on a telegram Firefighters extinguished the fire, and there were no injuries or “serious damage.”

In the Bryansk border region, which was subjected to repeated attacks, there were reports of powerful explosions. The independent Russian media organization Astra said that a chemical factory had been bombed; The report could not be independently verified.

This was said by the Russian Ministry of Defense Drop 31 drones, six ATACMS missiles and six Storm Shadow missiles target Bryansk.

From the beginning, Kiev’s strikes inside Russia were aimed at limiting Moscow’s ability to attack Ukrainian cities. But in recent weeks they have gained additional weight in an attempt to project strength ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week, amid concerns that he may ease US support for Ukraine.

Mr. Trump has pledged to end the war quickly. While he did not say how, many in Ukraine fear he might make concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which were red lines for Kiev.

Ahead of Mr. Trump’s inauguration on Monday, the Russian military also put on a show of force. While Kiev’s drones were targeting areas in Russia overnight, Russian forces were launching an air attack on Ukraine, putting most of the country under an air raid alert.

Ukrainian Air Force He said On Tuesday morning, approximately 80 drones participated in the attack but only managed to shoot down 60 of them. She added that residential buildings and cars were damaged by the drones in several areas, but there were no casualties.

Natalia Novosolova and Natalia Vasilieva Contributed to reports.