Ukrainian drone strike kills 13 in Russia
At least 13 people have been killed after a Ukrainian drone strike hit the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk in the central region of Tatarstan, Russian officials said.
The attack occurred on Monday, August 10, with officials reporting that dozens of people were also injured. Reuters reported that the casualties included a child and several Central Asian nationals.
Nizhnekamsk is an important Russian oil-refining and petrochemical centre. The city is home to the TANECO oil refinery, operated by Tatneft, which has previously been targeted during the war. The facility is located about 800 kilometres east of Moscow.
Russian authorities said the drone attack affected both industrial and residential areas. Reports indicated that nine of the victims were inside a hostel when the strike occurred, while emergency teams worked to respond to the casualties and damage.
The strike is among the deadliest Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Tatarstan authorities declared a day of mourning following the attack.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian energy infrastructure during the war, arguing that such facilities support Moscow’s military operations and economy. Ukrainian officials confirmed that the TANECO refinery was among the targets of the latest operation.
The latest attack comes amid continued exchanges of drone and missile strikes between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have accused the other of attacking civilian areas, while authorities on each side say their military operations are focused on strategic targets.
Russian investigators have launched an investigation into the attack as emergency workers continue to assess the damage and deal with the aftermath.
