Ukrainian drones on Monday struck energy facilities in southern Russia, triggering fires at a major oil refinery and gas processing plant and disrupting flights from the Volga to the Caucasus Mountains.

A new drone bomber may have joined Ukraine’s escalating assault on Russia’s oil industry. On Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, drones operated by the Ukrainian 14th Separate Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment struck a pumping station on the Druzhba pipeline along the Russian-Belarusian border in Bryansk Oblast.

Russian officials said Monday that Ukrainian drone attacks targeted energy facilities in two regions in southwestern Russia. Volgograd Governor Andrei Bocharov said falling debris from drones destroyed by Russian air defenses sparked fires at an oil refinery.

Ukraine's escalating drone attacks target Russian oil refineries and infrastructure, disrupting energy production and impacting air travel.

An 18-year-old British volunteer who enlisted to help defend Ukraine was killed by a Russian drone just minutes into his first mission, according to a report. But his first mission on Ukraine’s eastern front on 23 July 2024 was also to be his last,

"Fire breaks out at a Russian oil refinery after a Ukrainian drone attack in Volgograd. No casualties reported. #Ukraine #Russia #OilRefinery"

Ukrainian soldiers are now using a long-range drone capable of traveling up to 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) and carrying a 250-kilogram air bomb, the Unmanned Systems Forces said on Jan. 31. The drone is described as a “unique development” and a potential game changer on the battlefield.

"This refinery is one of the 10 largest oil refineries in Russia in terms of design capacity and is involved in supplying the Russian occupatying army," the General Staff said in a statement.