Explosives factories and fuel depots affected

(UPDATE) As of 1 p.m., Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) sources revealed to the Kyiv Post that the SBU and Defense Forces carried out a targeted operation that resulted in significant damage to several key Russian facilities, including chemical plants, refineries and Engels airfield. Several key sites across Russia were hit in a joint special operation:

• Aleksinsky Chemical Plant (Tula region): SBU drones caused a major fire at the facility.
• Engels airfield (Saratov region): Ammunition depots storing glide bombs and cruise missiles were hit. Fires caused by drone strikes continue to burn.
• Saratov Oil Refinery: A large fire broke out after the attack.
• Bryansk Chemical Plant: Direct hits from the missiles caused a massive fire followed by explosions.

“The SBU and Defense Forces systematically target military installations and enterprises that support the Russian military-industrial complex,” an SBU source said. “Every damaged munitions depot, refinery, tank farm or chemical plant weakens Russia’s ability to wage war against Ukraine.”

Ukrainian drones targeted several Russian regions late on Monday night, January 13, and early morning on Tuesday, January 14, in a massive aerial attack on chemical plants producing explosives and munitions, as well as storage facilities for fuel.

According to Ukrainian and Russian Telegram channels, explosions and fires were reported in at least seven regions, including Saratov, Voronezh, Orel, Tula and Tatarstan.

Although Ukrainian military authorities have not confirmed the details, Russian bloggers claim the drones were Ukrainian-made “Liutyi” models, similar to Turkish Bayraktar drones.

The Liutyi (meaning “fierce”) is a long-range Ukrainian drone capable of hitting targets at distances of up to 1,000 km. Its high effectiveness was proven by a series of successful attacks on Russian oil refineries, fuel depots, helicopter bases and other strategic installations.

The Russian Telegram channel Airborne Forces for Honesty and Justice, widely believed to be linked to the Ukrainian armed forces, reported that more than 200 Ukrainian drones, including the “PD-2”, “Beaver”, “Liutyi” and the “UJ-22”. “, were in action.

The channel noted: “We can only say that the enemy has mass-produced drones with a range of more than 1,000 km. »

Nilolaevsky Vanyok, Ukraine’s largest monitoring channel, reported that the assault involved “a group of different types of drones”, including those capable of carrying large mines and guided bombs (KAB).

In Engels, Saratov region, an industrial enterprise was damaged in the attack, Governor Roman Busargin said. The exact extent of the damage is unclear, but no injuries were reported.

According to the Telegram channel “Beware, News”, an oil depot in Engels was targeted, hit twice before catching fire.

The same oil depot was attacked on January 8, with firefighting efforts lasting several days. The fire was completely extinguished on January 13, as Busargin previously reported. It is not certain whether the latest strike hit the same facility.

As a precautionary measure, schools in Saratov and Engels switched to distance learning from January 14.

In Tatarstan’s capital Kazan, drones reportedly attacked a liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facility located on Severo-Zapadnaya Street, owned by Gazprom. While Telegram channels suggested three storage tanks had caught fire, local authorities only reported one.

Some Telegram channels also mentioned the Kazanorgsintez chemical plant, but local authorities confirmed that the plant was not affected. The city’s Emergency Dispatch Service (EDDS) said the fire occurred at another location.

Tatarstan’s leader, Rustam Minnikhanov, said he had visited the site and confirmed that there had been “no casualties or significant damage.” He added that all businesses in the area were operating normally.

Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz reported late on Monday night, January 13, that Russian air defenses had foiled a “combined missile strike” by Ukrainian forces. He said “all targets were destroyed and no injuries were reported.”

Telegram channels were the first to report the bombings in the region, sharing information from residents. According to channels like Mash, Shot and Astra, the Bryansk chemical plant in the village of Seltso was hit.

The factory, named after the 50th anniversary of the USSR, is known for producing explosives, according to Radio Liberty. This is not the first time the factory has been targeted by drones.

According to the Mash Telegram channel, people heard around 30 explosions. It is claimed that Bryansk was attacked by ATACMS missiles. Shot reports that numerous lightning flashes were visible above the city and on television they were warning of missile danger in the area.

Later, Mash reported that the fragments of the HIMARS missile fell on the premises of the silicon factory in Bryansk.

In the Oryol region, Governor Andrei Klychkov announced that 17 drones had been shot down. No injuries or property damage were recorded.

In Voronezh, Governor Alexander Gusev said several drones were destroyed overnight, without causing any casualties or damage to the ground.

In the Tula region, falling debris from drones caused damage in the town of Aleksin, including cars and outbuildings. Governor Dmitry Milyaev said a total of 17 drones were intercepted in the region overnight.

Air transport disruptions

At 6:30 a.m. Moscow time, the Federal Air Transport Agency imposed temporary flight restrictions at Kazan, Kaluga, Saratov and Tambov airports. Restrictions in Kaluga and Tambov were lifted within an hour, but new restrictions were imposed at Penza and Ulyanovsk airports.

So far, the Russian Defense Ministry has not issued any official statement regarding the drone attacks.