Early Saturday morning, reports emerged of a significant blaze at a Russian oil refinery following strikes by Ukrainian drones. Two facilities in Syzran, located in the Samara region near Kazakhstan, were hit, causing one of the refineries to catch fire and leading to the evacuation of workers from both sites, as per Reuters.
Intense Rescue Efforts
Local emergency services are currently engaged in a substantial effort to manage the situation. Governor Dmitrij Azarov assured that no individuals were harmed during the incident. While a severe fire has been confirmed at one facility, the impact on the other installation remains uncertain following the drone attack.
Increasing Frequency of Attacks
In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have intensified their actions against Russia's oil infrastructure. The facilities targeted on Saturday morning are part of Rosneft, the state-owned oil giant. This follows a series of attacks in the border region of Belgorod.
Deadliest Attack in Odessa
Meanwhile, Russia has launched an attack on the Ukrainian port city of Odessa. A Russian missile struck civilian infrastructure, resulting in at least 20 fatalities in what is considered the deadliest assault on the city in a long time. CNN reports that shortly after rescue teams arrived on the scene, Russia initiated additional attacks in a "double strike" tactic.
"This is the first time a double attack has occurred in the Odessa region," stated Maryna Averina, a spokesperson for the local emergency service. The second strike tragically resulted in the loss of several lives among the rescue personnel.
"Rescue forces arrived at the strike site and immediately began extinguishing the fire, clearing debris, and searching for victims. Then came the second missile strike."
Zelensky Appeals for More Western Support
In the wake of these attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to appeal for increased military support from the West to withstand the ongoing intense battles. Germany and France have recently agreed to boost their support, while new aid packages have also been announced by Denmark and the USA.
