Ukrainian attack sparks fire at Russian nuclear plant, authorities say

Russian units destroyed a total of 95 Ukrainian drones during Sunday night in 13 regions, according to the ministry. Ukrainian drone attacks overnight on various Russian power facilities forced a reduction in the capacity of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant and ignited a fuel export terminal in Ust-Luga, Russian authorities said on Sunday. A drone attack on the Kursk nuclear plant, not far from the Ukrainian border, damaged an auxiliary transformer and led to a 50% reduction in the operational capacity of unit three of the plant, the plant’s press service reported. There were no injuries and the fire caused by the attack was promptly extinguished, the press service added. Radiation levels on site and in the surrounding area did not exceed normal limits. Approximately 10 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the port of Ust-Luga, in the Leningrad region, in northern Russia, with debris causing a fire at the terminal operated by Novatek – a huge fuel export terminal by the Baltic Sea and processing complex, said the regional governor. “Firefighters and emergency services are working to extinguish the fire,” said Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, where the Ust-Luga port is located, on the Telegram messaging app. No injuries were reported. According to Novatek, the Ust-Luga complex, opened in 2013, processes gas condensate, aviation fuel, fuel oil, and diesel, allowing the company to send petroleum products and gas condensate to international markets. Russian units destroyed a total of 95 Ukrainian drones overnight in 13 regions, including Leningrad and Samara, as well as in the Crimea Peninsula, the Defense Ministry reported. Rosaviatsia, Russia’s civil aviation authority, said flights were disrupted for hours at several Russian airports overnight, including at Pulkovo airport in the Leningrad region. Ukrainian drones also attacked an industrial company in the city of Syzran, in southern Russia, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev of the Samara region, where Syzran is located, posted on Telegram, adding that there were no casualties. He did not specify the targets or any damage. Earlier this month, the Ukrainian army claimed to have attacked the Syzran oil refinery. The refinery, owned by Rosneft, was forced to halt production and crude oil receipts after the attack, sources told Reuters. There were no immediate comments from Ukraine. Kiev stated that its attacks on Russian soil are a response to Russia’s continuous attacks on Ukraine and are aimed at destroying infrastructure considered crucial for Moscow’s overall military efforts.