Moscow – On Thursday, Russian officials reported that Ukraine launched a major attack on Russian territory, firing at least 13 missiles and 84 drones. The strikes targeted the southern Rostov region, causing a fire at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery, which burned for several hours before being extinguished early in the morning.
The refinery, a frequent target of Ukrainian strikes, is a significant source of funding for Russia’s war effort. Acting Governor of Rostov, Yuri Slyusar, confirmed the missile and drone attack, which resulted in at least one injury. The Russian air defense systems managed to shoot down 84 drones, including 36 over Rostov, according to Slyusar.
It remains unclear which specific missiles Ukraine used in the attack, though earlier this month, Kyiv utilized U.S.-made ATACMS missiles to target a Russian military airfield. These missile strikes, authorized by the U.S. administration, led to a retaliatory Russian strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Since November 19, Ukraine has also used ATACMS, British Storm Shadow missiles, and U.S.-made HIMARS in subsequent attacks. On November 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded with the launch of a new intermediate-range hypersonic missile, “Oreshnik” (Hazel Tree), aimed at Ukraine’s Kamensky chemical plant, which is believed to manufacture rocket fuel components.
These escalating attacks come amid ongoing military tensions, with both sides reporting significant, albeit unverifiable, battlefield damage.