Beyond Borders: Russia and Ukraine’s Escalating Drone Attacks on Energy Installations

For several months, Russian forces have been targeting energy installations on Ukrainian territory, prompting Kyiv to adopt a similar strategy to slow down supplies to Russian military forces in Ukraine. The attacks on energy installations and industrial facilities in Russia demonstrate Kyiv’s willingness to escalate tactics in response to Russian aggression on Ukrainian territory.

Russian Telegram channels reported a drone attack on an oil refinery in Voronezh, Russia, and on oil and energy installations in two districts of the Smolensk region, located about 400 km from the Ukrainian borders. The regional governor, Vasily Anokhine, confirmed the attacks and subsequent fires in the Voronezh refinery, while air defense forces in the region shot down four drones. The governor also reported a previous bombing of an electromechanical factory in the city.

Ukrainian drones also targeted oil refineries in the Smolensk region and Voronezh the night before, as well as a factory producing chassis for military equipment. The extent of the damage caused by these attacks is still unknown. In the Smolensk region, fires broke out at fuel and energy facilities following the drone attack, including an oil depot. In Lipetsk, residents reported multiple explosions in the industrial zone after drones attacked the Lipetsk tractor factory, although authorities claim the drones were shot down.

The Lipetsk Tractor Plant