On the night of January 14, Ukraine launched its “most extensive” offensive against Russian military and industrial facilities at a range of up to 1,100 kilometers (620 miles), according to a report from the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff.
A chemical plant, an oil refinery and an ammunition depot at the Engels Air Force Base were successfully targeted, a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) official told the Kyiv Independent.
“The SBU, in cooperation with the Armed Forces, continues to attack enemy military facilities and enterprises that support the Russian military-industrial complex. With each attack on ammunition depots, refineries, oil depots, chemical plants, etc. Ukraine’s ability to wage war will be weakened,” an SBU official told the Kyiv Independent.
Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted Tatarstan as well as several other regions, including Saratov, Voronezh, and Orel oblasts. The Russian Ministry of Defense did not say how many drones were involved.
Dmitry Milyaev, the governor of Russia’s Tula region, described a “massive drone attack” in a Telegram post, claiming that at least 17 drones were launched. In Alexin, debris from the crashed drone reportedly damaged vehicles and buildings, but no casualties were reported.
SBU officials suggested that the Alexino chemical plant, which produces gunpowder and ammunition for the Russian military, was attacked successfully, causing a large fire.
In the cities of Saratov and Engels, Governor Roman Busargin confirmed damage to two industrial facilities following drone attacks. The General Staff announced that the Engels Crystal oil facility, which had been on fire for five days after the Jan. 8 airstrike, had been targeted again.
Engels Airfield, located in Saratov Oblast, more than 750 kilometers (460 miles) from Ukraine’s nearest controlled territory, was said to have been attacked on an ammunition depot containing FAB glide bombs, KAB bombs and cruise missiles. The Saratov refinery was also reportedly involved in the fire.
Engels has three types of Russian strategic bombers in its fleet: the Tupolev Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160, all of which are frequently used for missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Mikhail Isaev, deputy head of the Engels district, announced that schools in the city will move to remote learning due to the continuing threat of drone attacks.
According to Russia’s opposition telegraph agency Astra, an explosion was reported in the town of Seltso, near Bryansk, and a chemical factory was reportedly damaged.
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Army acknowledged the attack and said the factory produces gunpowder, explosives, and missile fuel components, including ammunition for barrel guns, multiple rocket systems (MLRS), aircraft, and Kh-59 cruise missiles. He said that We are also overhauling Grad, Uragan, and Tornado-G MLRS.
The force reported that the drones disrupted Russian air defenses and paved the way for missile attacks on key targets. After the missile attack, long-range drones allegedly destroyed electrical substations and other critical infrastructure.
In Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, a fuel facility was attacked in the early hours of January 14, causing a gasoline tank to catch fire. The fire broke out about 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Rustam Minikhanov, head of the Republic of Tatarstan, admitted that a fire broke out in the city as a result of the drone attack, but insisted there was no serious damage.
Minikhanov said on his Telegram channel: “I went to the scene of the fire that occurred as a result of a drone attack. Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire. There were no reports of casualties or serious damage. I heard it.” .
Kyiv Independent was unable to independently verify this claim.
The Ukrainian military is increasingly targeting Russia’s oil industry, ammunition depots, and military airfields with the aim of disrupting supply chains vital to Russia’s war effort. Fossil fuel exports remain a major source of income for the Kremlin’s military operations.
These attacks are part of Ukraine’s continued efforts to attack deep into Russian territory, including areas far from the front lines, and undermine Russia’s ability to sustain a full-scale invasion.
Ukraine says ‘comprehensive multi-day operation’ targets infrastructure at Russia’s Engels Air Base
Engels Air Base, located in Saratov Oblast, more than 750 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, is home to Russia’s heavy bombers.
