NEWS WEEK
Energy infrastructure within Russian territory has again been hit by Ukrainian-launched drones.
Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian energy facilities in recent months, which have hampered Moscow’s war machine and supplies of its main export, although Kyiv frequently does not directly claim responsibility for the attacks.
Overnight Friday, at least three electrical substations and a fuel storage base caught fire after they were hit, according to a Ukrainian military source, cited by Agence France-Presse with video footage posted to social media showing the aftermath of the strikes. Newsweek emailed the Ukrainian Defense Ministry for comment on Saturday.
One clip purportedly from the Kardymovo depot belonging to energy giant Lukoil in the Smolensk region, neighboring Ukraine, shows a fire burning, which is filmed by a bystander expressing his surprise. “What an explosion,” the man said. “There have been six explosions now.” Newsweek has been unable to verify this footage.
The Astra Telegram channel posted images of flames at an electrical substation in the village of Vygonychi in the Bryansk region caused by a downed drone.
