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An oil depot in Russia has exploded into flames following a massive explosion as a result of a drone attack thought to have been orchestrated by Ukraine. A trio of tanks holding thousands of tonnes of fuel were set alight at around 6am local time at a site in Bryansk, a Russian region that borders Ukraine to the north. The blaze was triggered after a drone dropped explosives into one of the fuel tanks, according to Russian media. Nobody was injured in the attack.
Dramatic video footage shortly after the attack shows two fuel tanks spewing smoke into the early morning sky, with at least one showing signs of blast damage. Its metal shell is shown bent outwards.
Further pictures after sunrise shortly afterwards show a thick plume of black smoke rising high into the air.
Russia media has reported the origin of the drone is “unknown” and Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for it yet.
But it is widely thought Ukraine is behind scored of attacks on facilities used to supply Putin’s armies located in Russia’s western border regions.
Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod – three oblasts that border northern Ukraine – have been targeted on a number of occasions over recent weeks.
Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on social media: “Reservoirs with oil products are on fire in the Surazhsky district. Fire and rescue teams are at the scene.”
He added the fire had engulfed a massive area of 1,800 square metres and that over 80 people were battling to bring the blaze under control.
The governor also said there have so far not been any reports of casualties.
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Pro-Russian forces were on the ground after the incident was reported at 3.06am local time trying to extinguish the flames.
The oil tankers were located on railway tracks and this inflicting damage to the transport line for the Russian-backed militants in the area.
A Ukrainian citizen from the city of Kherson has been posting updates about the ongoing war in Ukraine and posted the footage on social media.
Under the username Special Kherson Cat, they wrote: “Tonight there were strikes on the Russian oil depot in Makiivka near Donetsk Two railway tanks with fuel and three stationary tanks burned down.”
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