On Sunday, Ukraine executed a widespread drone attack targeting critical infrastructure deep within Russia, striking a major fuel export terminal and one of the nation’s largest nuclear power plants. Russian officials reported that the attacks, coinciding with Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations on August 24, involved at least 95 drones across more than a dozen regions. This escalation continues the ongoing pattern of long-range strikes by both sides in the deadliest European conflict since World War II, extending far beyond the 2,000-kilometer front line.
The Kursk nuclear power plant, located just 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, was a primary target. According to a statement from the plant, air defenses intercepted a drone that detonated nearby, damaging an auxiliary transformer. The incident prompted a 50% reduction in the operating capacity of reactor No. 3 and sparked a fire that was subsequently controlled. Officials confirmed that radiation levels remained normal and there were no injuries. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) acknowledged the reports, reiterating that all nuclear facilities must be protected from military activity.
Hundreds of kilometers to the north, a massive blaze erupted at the Novatek-operated fuel terminal in the major Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga. The regional governor stated that debris from at least 10 downed Ukrainian drones sparked the fire at the critical processing and export complex. Unverified footage circulating on social media showed a drone impacting the facility, followed by a large fireball and a plume of black smoke. The Ust-Luga terminal is vital for processing gas condensate and shipping petroleum products, including jet fuel and naphtha, to international markets, particularly in Asia.
The wave of attacks also reached the southern Samara region, where a drone struck an industrial enterprise in the city of Syzran, injuring a child. This incident follows a successful Ukrainian strike earlier in the month on the Rosneft-owned Syzran oil refinery, which sources reported had suspended production. In response to the extensive overnight attacks, Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, temporarily halted flights at several airports, including Pulkovo in the Leningrad region.
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While Ukraine did not immediately comment on the specific operations, Kyiv has consistently maintained that its strikes inside Russia are a direct response to Moscow’s ongoing aggression. Ukrainian officials frame these attacks as a legitimate military strategy aimed at disrupting infrastructure that is crucial to Russia’s war effort. This approach targets key economic and logistical hubs to degrade Moscow’s ability to sustain its invasion.
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