Drone attacks by Ukraine hit one of Russia’s biggest oil refineries and a drone factory 800 miles from the frontline, say military sources.
They attacked targets in Tatarstan, a highly industrialised region south-east of Moscow, in the early hours, Tatarstan’s head Rustam Minnikhanov said.
There were reports of several people being injured.
A Kyiv intelligence source said a centre had been hit where Russia produces long-range “Shahed” attack drones used to bomb Ukraine.
He added that significant damage was done to a military target.
Unconfirmed video footage appeared to show a light aircraft having been turned into a drone for the attack.
Industrial sites were also targeted.
Russian electronic warfare defences intercepted a Ukrainian drone near Tatneft’s Taneco refinery, one of Russia’s biggest, in Nizhnekamsk, the RIA state news agency reported.
A fire broke out at the refinery that was extinguished within 20 minutes, it added, insisting that production was not disrupted.
Pictures from the scene indicated the drone hit the primary refining unit, CDU-7, at the Taneco refinery.
It was one of Ukraine’s deepest drone attacks into Russian territory.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking to build an arsenal of a million drones this year.
Britain, which has led the West in arming Ukraine, is supplying drones to Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin’s military has used drones to target Ukraine’s energy sector.
While Ukraine has struck deep inside Russia including Moscow.
The Taneco oil refinery is one of Russia’s largest and newest. Its production capacity stands at around 360,000 barrels per day.
Mr Minnikhanov said that sites in Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk were attacked.
Two drones attacked a dormitory on the territory of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone. At least seven people were injured, Russian media reported.
“There is no serious damage, the technological process of the enterprises is not disrupted,” Mr Minnikhanov said.
Unverified footage on social media showed a loud blast followed by people running for cover.
The Washington Post reported last year that Russia was mass producing drones at a plant in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone.
On the battlefield, Russian troops were said to be making limited progress in a number of areas of the frontline in the Donetsk province of eastern Ukraine.
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