Ukrainian drones strike train station in Russia's Volgograd Oblast, governor reports
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Ukraine's military launched a drone attack on Russia's Volgograd Oblast overnight on Aug. 7, striking a railway station in the town of Surovikino, regional Governor Andrei Bocharov reported.
Videos posted on social media by local residents and geolocated by the Russian Telegram channel Crimean Wind appear to show large flames emanating from the railway station.
Confirming the attack, Bocharov claimed that a fire broke out at an administrative building at the railway station, further claiming that no damage to railway infrastructure had been observed.
The Kyiv Independent cannot verify reports made by Russian officials.
Ukraine's military rarely comments on drone strikes on Russian territory and has not done so in this instance — although it has regularly targeted the region with drones.
The railway station reportedly serves as a logistics hub for military cargo destined for Ukraine's front line region as well as occupied territories.
Amid the attack on the region, temporary flight restrictions were implemented at Volgograd Airport, Rosaviatsia, Russia's air transport agency, reported.
The Volgograd region is located some 900 kilometers (560 miles) southeast of Moscow.
A total of 82 drones were shot down over various Russian regions overnight, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed.
The same night, Ukrainian drones reportedly attacked the Afipskiy oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, while naval drones were said to target the nearby port city of Novorossiysk.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has struck other Russian railway stations close to the Russia-Ukraine border. Overnight on July 29, drones struck a railway station in the town of Salsk in Belgorod Oblast, causing a large fire.
Fuel depots, rail infrastructure, and ammunition stockpiles inside Russia and occupied territories have increasingly become targets for long-range drone and missile strikes.
