Drone attack sets oil tanks ablaze in southern Russia
by AFP Staff Writers
Moscow (AFP) June 18, 2024

An overnight drone attack set several oil storage tanks ablaze near the town of Azov in southern Russia on Tuesday, sparking a large fire, local officials said.

Ukraine did not immediately claim responsibility but has carried out similar attacks on Russian energy facilities before, arguing they are fair targets given they fuel Moscow's military.

"Oil product tanks caught fire in Azov as a result of a drone attack. According to preliminary data, there were no casualties," the governor of the local Rostov region, Vasily Golubev, said on Telegram.

Video published by the emergencies ministry showed thick smoke and flames billowing out of what appeared to be multiple oil storage tanks in an undisclosed location.

Officials did not say how many drones were involved in the attack.

Some 200 firefighters and emergency personnel were deployed to deal with the blaze, which spanned an area of at least 3,200 square metres, the emergencies ministry said.

The Rostov region sits directly across the Ukrainian border and is home to the operational headquarters overseeing Russia's military offensive in Ukraine.

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