Russia says 13 killed in Ukraine drone attack on oil-refining city 900km from Moscow

At least 13 people, including a child, lost their lives and 39 others were injured when Ukrainian drones targeted industrial and civilian sites in the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk, authorities announced on Monday. The attack on Nizhnekamsk, a major oil-refining and petrochemical hub in the Tatarstan republic, is one of the deadliest civilian incidents in the country in recent months.

The city is home to two significant oil refineries, Taneco and Taif-Nk, as well as a synthetic rubber and plastic producer, Nizhnekamskneftekhim.

Ukraine's military claimed responsibility for the strike, stating it had hit the Taneco oil refinery roughly 800 km (497 miles) east of Moscow, adding that a fire was recorded at the facility. Nizhnekamsk Mayor Radmir Belyayev reported on Telegram that the assault targeted industrial sites and residential areas, though he did not specify the extent of damage in the city.

Russian investigators have launched a criminal investigation, deeming the attack a terrorist act involving civilian casualties. Satellite imagery from NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System showed fresh heat anomalies at Nizhnekamskneftekhim, suggesting potential fires. Taneco refinery, which Ukraine also struck in June, processes 17 million tonnes of crude oil annually, producing 2.7 million tonnes of petrol and 8.5 million tonnes of diesel fuel.

Recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries last week have heightened pressure on domestic fuel supplies amid ongoing shortages.

Ukraine has ramped up its assaults on Russia's oil-processing industry in recent weeks, following a brief respite in the second half of July. The strikes aim to make the consequences of the war felt by ordinary Russians. Meanwhile, Moscow has sought to bolster its fuel supplies by importing fuel from abroad. Both Ukraine and Russia have denied targeting civilians, with the conflict escalating since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.