Violent explosions, huge clouds of smoke… These images published on social networks and taken up by several independent Russian media show scenes of chaos in Russia, according to theAgence France-PresseThe latter specifies that it has not been able to verify its authenticity, but the Russian authorities recognize that a massive attack of “Ukranian drones” was carried out on the night of Friday to Saturday in the Krasnodar region, in the southwest of Russia. A region close to Ukraine, from which it is separated by the Sea of Azov.
Two drones were reportedly shot down by anti-aircraft defences and falling debris. “triggered” a fire in the Tikhoretsky district, governor Veniamine Kondratiev said on Telegram, without specifying the precise target of the Ukrainian strike. There were no injuries reported Saturday morning, but authorities evacuated the population in the village of Kuban, near the scene of the fire. About 1,200 residents were reportedly displaced “temporarily”.
A hundred drones shot down
The Defense Ministry said earlier that it had shot down 18 drones over the Krasnodar region and 16 over the Sea of Azov. Other drones struck the Tver region, much further north, again without causing casualties, according to regional authorities. Traffic on a highway had to be halted, before resuming at midday, regional authorities said on Telegram.
In total, the Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down 101 Ukrainian drones overnight from Friday to Saturday. Fifty-three drones were shot down over the Bryansk region (west), which borders Russia and where the governor said there was no damage or casualties.
An attack “against energy installations” in Ukraine
On Wednesday, Ukraine had already claimed responsibility for the destruction of a warehouse containing missiles and artillery ammunition in Toropets, about 400 km northwest of Moscow. Ballistic missiles, guided aerial bombs and artillery ammunition were stored there, it said.
For its part, the Russian ministry said it had carried out a group attack during the night. “against energy facilities that support the work of military-industrial complex enterprises” in Ukraine. “All the objectives of the strike were achieved”he added in a statement. The Russian military said it had hit weapons depots and a ship containing weapons destined for Ukraine.
On Friday, the governor of the Ukrainian region of Odessa, Oleg Kiper, said that a Russian strike had damaged port infrastructure and a boat, which he said was civilian.
