In the early hours of July 13, 2024, Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on multiple Russian regions, with a significant impact on an oil base in the Rostov region. According to Governor Vasiliy Golubev, a fire broke out at the oil base in the Cimlyansky district following the attack. The fire, classified as third-grade, engulfed an area of approximately 200 square meters by 8 am local time. Emergency services deployed 49 firefighters, 14 pieces of equipment, and a fire train to combat the blaze.Russian air defense systems reportedly intercepted and destroyed four Ukrainian drones across three regions: two over Rostov Oblast, one over Belgorod Oblast, and one over Kursk Oblast. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed these interceptions, emphasizing their efforts to thwart what they termed as ‘terrorist attacks’ on Russian territory.Simultaneously, Russia launched its own drone attack on Ukraine, deploying five Shahed-131/136 drones from Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Ukrainian Air Force Commander Nikolai Oleksiyuk reported that four of these drones were shot down by Ukrainian defense forces in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, while the fifth drone entered Belarusian airspace.This escalation in drone warfare highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The attacks on Russian oil infrastructure are part of Ukraine’s strategy to disrupt Russia’s military logistics. U.S. Defense Minister Lloyd Austin has warned that these attacks could potentially impact global energy markets.As the conflict continues, both sides are increasingly relying on drone technology. Since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022, Moscow and Kyiv have extensively used drones in their military operations.
Key points
- Ukrainian drone attack caused a significant fire at an oil base in Russia’s Rostov region.
- Russian air defense systems intercepted four Ukrainian drones over Rostov, Belgorod, and Kursk regions.
- Russia launched a retaliatory drone attack on Ukraine, with four out of five drones shot down by Ukrainian forces.
- The escalating drone warfare highlights the ongoing tensions and evolving tactics in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Contradictions👾While most sources report four Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian forces, one source mentions that five drones were launched at Ukraine by Russia, with four shot down.
This discrepancy might be due to separate incidents or reporting errors.
