Moment Ukraine launches overnight drone blitz on Putin’s oil plant sparking inferno in humiliating blow for Russia
Moment Ukraine launches overnight drone blitz on Putin’s oil plant sparking inferno in humiliating blow for Russia
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UKRAINE blitzed one of Vladimir Putin's biggest oil plants overnight in the latest humiliating blow for the dictator. It came amid a major drone attack against a number of Russian oil and power facilities. The Kremlin's fourth-largest oil refinery exploded into flames after being blasted.
![[Oil refinery engulfed in flames.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/lukoil-nizhegorodnefteorgsintez-kstovo-nizhny-967486218.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Spectacular footage showed the Lukoil-owned Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez ablaze in Nizhny Novgorod region after it was hit by two long-distance military drones from Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said 104 drones were involved in raids across the west, 11 of which were destroyed over the Smolensk region.
![[Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery on fire.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/8bfcb4a2-367d-4a33-aed2-cf961c4787e6.jpg?strip=all&w=833)
A major nuclear power plant was also among the targets - with air defence systems destroying a drone that attempted to hit Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant near Desnogorsk. Smolensk region governor Vasily Anokhin said: "One of the drones was shot down during an attempt to attack a nuclear power facility.".
![[People running away from a large explosion.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/people-run-smoke-rises-explosion-966155189.jpg?strip=all&w=541)
Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant is a key supplier of electricity to western Russia, and the same type as the notorious Chernobyl atomic station. Debris from a drone "fell in the area of the Smolensk NPP", pro-Kremlin Shot online media outlet reported. Anokhin said the power plant - which has three reactors capable of generating 3,000 MW electricity - is operating normally.
The oil refinery in Kstovo is the latest to be hit in a concerted campaign by Ukraine to damage Putin’s oil infrastructure. Residents heard the buzzing of drones followed by huge explosions. Governor Gleb Nikitin said: "Firefighters are currently working to extinguish the fire, according to preliminary data, there are no casualties.".
