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Oil depot fire, casualties reported in Russia's Krasnodar Krai following drone strike

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Oil depot fire, casualties reported in Russia's Krasnodar Krai following drone strike
A view of the Crimean Bridge, built following Russia's illegal occupation and annexation of Crimea. (Photo by Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)

A fire broke out at an oil depot at Port Kavkaz in Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight following a drone strike in the early hours of May 31, the Telegram channel Crimean Wind reported.

According to local authorities, the fire originated at a fuel depot housing three petroleum tanks. The fuel is used to supply gas to Russian forces in parts of occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, according to Crimean Wind.

Authorities claim that there are multiple casualties among the employees of the oil depot as a result of the strike.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims, and no information is presently available on the extent of the casualties.

Port Kavkaz lies directly on the border between occupied Crimea and Russia's Krasnodar Krai. The port sits about 12 kilometers east of the Kerch Bridge that connects occupied Crimea with mainland Russia.

Explosions reportedly rang out around 2 a.m. local time.

Ukraine's Armed Forces have yet to take responsibility for the attack, nor have they provided comment.

On May 30, Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drones destroyed two and damaged two more Russian patrol boats in occupied Crimea while also causing damage to the Russian Kerch ferry crossing in occupied Crimea.

The ferry crossing was hit with U.S.-provided long-range ATACMS missiles, according to the General Staff.


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Dmytro Basmat

Senior News Editor

Dmytro Basmat is a Senior News Editor for The Kyiv Independent. He previously worked in Canadian politics as a communications lead and spokesperson for a national political party, and as a communications assistant for a Canadian Member of Parliament. Basmat has a Master's degree in Political Management from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University.

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