Drones strike Russian oblasts overnight: thick smoke over a Nizhnekamsk refinery as Crimea’s Krasnoperekopsk industrial zone burns

Overnight into August 10, drones attacked several Russian oblasts, including a refinery in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, and multiple locations in Crimea's occupied Krasnoperekopsk industrial zone. Local Telegram channels and Ukrainian monitoring groups reported the attacks, though Kyiv has not claimed responsibility and the damage remains unverified.

Thick smoke was observed over the Nizhnekamsk refinery, which has two major plants: TAIF-NK and TANECO. TAIF-NK processes crude oil and gas condensate, producing various fuels, while TANECO, belonging to the Tatneft group, is one of Russia's largest and most advanced refineries.

In occupied Crimea, explosions rocked Krasnoperekopsk, also known as Yany Kapu, around 2-3 a.m., with at least seven blasts reported. Subscribers described a fire behind the railway station in the industrial area, and NASA's FIRMS satellite system detected multiple heat signatures in the southern industrial zone by morning. Russian forces reportedly store and repair equipment in the area. Drones also crossed Sevastopol, with residents hearing aircraft and gunfire near the Balaklava thermal power plant.

Russian officials claimed 15 drones fell, mostly over the sea, and acknowledged that falling debris ignited a forest fire near Inzhir beach, prompting a campsite evacuation. In Simferopol, a blast briefly cut power before it was restored. Moscow and Rostov reported downed drones, with Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stating that air defenses in Moscow downed 13 drones overnight, and Governor Yuri Slyusar of Rostov Oblast said over 70 drones were destroyed.

However, the counts reflect Russian air-defense claims rather than independently verified strikes. Overnight, Russia's aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, restricted takeoffs and landings at 15 airports, including Begishevo in Nizhnekamsk and others in Kazan, Ufa, Samara, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo.