Ukrainian drones reportedly target oil refinery in Russia's Ufa, attack Tula, Nizhny Novgorod oblasts

Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in the Russian city of Ufa on Aug. 19, while Russia's Tula and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts also came under attack overnight, according to local authorities and monitoring channels.

The large-scale attacks come as Ukrainian forces have stepped up strikes on Russian military production facilities and oil industry targets. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses destroyed 453 Ukrainian drones overnight on Aug. 19 over 21 Russian regions, as well as occupied Crimea and the Black Sea.

Bashkortostan Governor Radiy Khabirov said six drones targeted Ufa, four of which were shot down. One of the drones crashed in an industrial area, though the official did not specify which facility was affected.

Another drone struck a residential building in Ufa's Zaton district, damaging windows on the upper floors and parked cars below, according to Khabirov. One person was injured, he said.

OSINT analysts from the independent Russian outlet Astra reported that the Bashneft-UNPZ oil refinery was damaged in the attack, with a fire reported at the facility.

The site was previously targeted on Aug. 2. A day earlier, another oil refinery, Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim, was targeted in the same industrial area.

Eyewitnesses also reported explosions in Novomoskovsk, Tula Oblast, as drones were shot down near a residential building in the city of Dzerzhinsk in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, according to monitoring channel Exilenova Plus.

Tula Oblast Governor Dmitry Milyaev confirmed a Ukrainian drone attack took place, reporting that Russia's air defenses intercepted 27 drones.

"According to preliminary information, there have been no reports of damage to buildings or infrastructure," he said.

Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Governor Gleb Nikitin said Russian forces intercepted 52 Ukrainian drones targeting the region. At the same time, falling debris damaged houses, cars, and an apartment building, Nikitin added.

Astra reported that the 53rd Arsenal of Russia's Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU) in Dzerzhinsk was "likely targeted" in the attack. Russian air defenses were also reportedly seen intercepting drones near residential areas, according to the outlet.

As of publication, Ukraine's military command had not confirmed the attacks or reported on their consequences

The details could not be immediately verified by the Kyiv Independent.

Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep within Russia and the occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow's ability to continue waging its war.

The prior night, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale drone attack targeting Moscow and the surrounding region on Aug. 18, Russian Telegram media channels reported, citing eyewitnesses.

On Aug. 16, Ukraine struck cities across Russia's Moscow Oblast in a major overnight drone attack, damaging a warehouse belonging to major Russian online retailer Wildberries, Moscow Oblast Governor Andrey Vorobyov reported.

The governor described the strikes as "one of the most massive drone attacks (against Moscow Oblast) in recent memory." One person was killed in the attacks, he claimed.

A fire broke out at the Wildberries warehouse in the village of Koledino near Moscow after it was struck by Ukrainian forces, Vorobyov said, and Ukraine's Defense Ministry later confirmed the attack, noting that it is the company's largest such facility, at 250,000 square meters.