Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ukraine launched a massive drone attack, targeting a Russian nuclear power plant and oil and power facilities, Russian media outlets and officials said.
Smolensk’s Governor Vasily Anokhin, said that air defense systems intercepted a drone trying to strike a nuclear power facility in the western part of Smolensk, bordering Belarus.
The largest power-generating plant in Russia’s northwest, the Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant, was operating normally, the RIA state news agency noted. Russia’s defense ministry revealed that 104 drones were engaged in attacks across western Russia, 11 of which were intercepted over the Smolensk territory.
Kremlin air defenses intercepted drones over nine regions, about half of them over Kursk, where Russian forces are battling to push Ukrainian soldiers that have settled several villages. Russian petrochemicals company Sibur stated it had temporarily stopped operations at its plant in Kstovo after remnants from a Ukrainian drone flashed a fire.
How has Ukraine intensified drone attacks on Russian infrastructure?
In the past few months, Ukraine has increased attacks on Russian land using drones to hit critical infrastructure, such as oil refineries, power facilities, and military installations.
On September 10, 2024, Ukraine conducted a massive drone attack on Moscow. This attack was the largest in the Russian capital, killing at least one person and destroying many homes. The attack forced the diversion of about 50 flights from Moscow airports. Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted a considerable number of drones during this operation.
Kursk and other regions were also targeted on August 14, 2024. Ukraine carried out a mass-scale drone attack targeting several regions across Russia, namely Kursk, Voronezh, and Belgorod. According to reports, explosions were seen due to the impact of Ukrainian drones against military airbases, while local officials alleged the shooting down of various drones.
On August 30, 2024, another wave was launched against the energy infrastructure by the drone strike. Six regions across western Russia – including Pskov Airport were hit by Ukrainian forces, destroying two Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft and also striking a fuel depot in Kaluga and a microelectronics factory in Bryansk.
