Russia’s Belgorod Oblast oil depot was on fire after unconfirmed Ukrainian drone strike, while three Russian bombs crash in region

Also, Russian Shahed drone hit a residential house in Russia's Belgorod, while Russian aircraft accidentally discharged three bombs in the region.

Nov 13, 2024 - 03:00

Russia’s Belgorod Oblast oil depot was on fire after unconfirmed Ukrainian drone strike, while three Russian bombs crash in region

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In the early hours of 12 November, a Ukrainian Army’s drone reportedly targeted an oil depot in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, sparking a fire that was allegedly quickly extinguished, according to the region’s Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed.

This year, Ukraine has intensified its drone attacks against the Russian oil industry primarily targeting oil refineries, thus significantly disrupting fuel supplies crucial for the Russian military, while simultaneously decreasing the Kremlin’s export revenues. Lately, Ukraine has been striking Russian oil depots, supplying Russian troops with fuel and various military facilities, also focusing on aerial ammunition depots at Russian airfields.

Gladkov claimed the incident occurred within the Stary Oskol district, and that local emergency services responded promptly.

“As a result of the explosion, one of the [fuel] tanks caught fire. Ten firefighting units worked on the scene and quickly extinguished the fire. No one was hurt,” Gladkov stated on his official Telegram channel.

Ukrainian official sources didn’t report an alleged attack on the Belgorod oil depot.

Russia attacks its Belgorod

Although Ukrainian ground troops don’t operate in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, Russia uses the region to launch guided bombs and transit explosive drones, leading to frequent malfunctions and mishaps that impact the area.

On 11 November, another Russian Telegram channel, Pepel, reported that on 5 November, a mishap occurred involving a Russian Shahed drone reportedly striking a residential building in Belgorod City, injuring two people, damaging 40 apartments, three buildings, and 24 cars. Russia uses the Shaheds in its daily attacks against Ukraine’s residential areas and infrastructure.

Russian news Telegram channel Astra reported several accidental bomb discharge accidents by Russian aircraft in the region in recent days. On 9 November, a FAB-250 bomb fell close to Ushakovo, a village 35 km from the Ukrainian border. On 11 November, Astra reported that three additional FAB-250 bombs detached from Russian aircraft, with one falling in a forest near Selishko, another in Ziborovka, and a third in a field near Seretino in the Yakovlevsky district, according to Astra.

Astra says it has documented at least 146 instances of FAB bombs accidental discharges in Russia and Russian-occupied territories in 2024. These unexploded bombs, mainly FAB-250 and FAB-500 models, are usually destroyed post-facto by Russian explosives experts. Such incidents often involve guided munitions Russia employs in airstrikes on Ukrainian oblasts like Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia.

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