In recent months, Russian forces have been targeting energy installations on Ukrainian territory, prompting Kyiv to adopt a similar strategy to slow down supplies to Russian military forces in Ukraine. This has resulted in coordinated drone attacks on oil refineries and industrial facilities in the Smolensk region and Voronezh, Russia.
According to Russian Telegram channels, an oil refinery in Voronezh was hit by a drone attack and subsequent fires. Air defense forces in the region shot down four drones, while the regional governor confirmed the attacks and reported a previous bombing of an electromechanical factory in the city. In addition, fires broke out at fuel and energy facilities following the drone attack in the Smolensk region, including an oil depot.
Ukrainian drones also targeted oil refineries and a factory producing chassis for military equipment in the Smolensk region and Voronezh the night before. The extent of the damage caused by these attacks is still unknown. In Lipetsk, residents reported multiple explosions in the industrial zone after drones attacked the Lipetsk tractor factory, although authorities claim that the drones were shot down.
The Lipetsk Tractor Plant, part of the Tractor Plants machine-building group, has been producing chassis for military vehicles since 2004. These coordinated drone attacks are part of Ukraine’s strategy to disrupt Russian military operations and slow down supply chains. The attacks on energy installations and industrial facilities in Russia demonstrate Kyiv’s willingness to escalate tactics in response to Russian aggression on Ukrainian territory.