‘The fear keeps building’: Residents of Russia’s Nizhnekamsk on life after a deadly Ukrainian drone attack

On August 10, 2026, a Ukrainian drone attack struck Nizhnekamsk, a city in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, killing 13 people and injuring 78. The victims included residents from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and a 5-year-old girl who was sleeping on a balcony when a drone hit a tree, shattering a window. The attack targeted the oil refineries of Taneko and TAIF, but also hit residential buildings and a hostel in the industrial zone.

The damage to the apartment building on Shkolny Boulevard was severe, with windows blown out in 60 of its 132 apartments. Residents immediately erected a makeshift memorial with flowers and candles, and local officials canceled the city's anniversary celebrations, declaring a period of mourning. The independent journalist cooperative Bereg reported on residents' experiences, describing the shock and despair they felt upon witnessing the aftermath of the attack.

Many residents, like Ruslan and Olga, recounted their reactions to the attack, expressing their concerns about the increasing frequency and destructiveness of the drone strikes. Olga noted that while people had grown accustomed to the attacks, they were still uneasy, with disruptions to their work schedules and a growing sense of fear.

Alina, a longtime resident, shared her growing anxiety and worry for her children as the school year approached. She expressed her desire to keep her children at home on September 1, fearing that large gatherings could provoke another drone attack.