Ukraine launched new strikes on Russian energy sites overnight into Sunday, according to reports from Russian authorities and media. In a counterclaim, Kyiv denied Russian accusations that a Ukrainian drone had targeted a key nuclear plant occupied by Russia in Zaporizhzhia.
In Russia's Rostov region, drone debris ignited a fire at a fuel storage facility, as reported by Governor Yuriy Slyusar via Telegram. He indicated that residents from nearby homes had to be evacuated. Additional impacts were reported in Saratov province, also in southwestern Russia, where Governor Roman Busargin noted damage to civilian infrastructure. An independent Russian news outlet, Astra, reported that an oil refinery was ablaze in the capital, Saratov.
In recent months, Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian oil and gas facilities, arguing that these sectors financially support and directly contribute to Moscow's ongoing military campaign, which has continued for over four years.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials refuted Russia's claims regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Ukraine and Europe. The facility was captured by Russian forces in the initial weeks of the conflict and remains near the front lines in the Zaporizhzhia region, one of four regions that Russia has claimed to annex despite lacking complete military control and international legitimacy.
On Saturday, Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear company, alleged that a Ukrainian drone struck the turbine hall of Power Unit No. 6, causing an explosion. Rosatom's CEO, Alexei Likhachev, accused Ukraine of a "deliberate" attack, asserting there was no damage to the main equipment.
In response, Ukraine's military dismissed Russia's claims as “yet another propaganda ploy.” The military emphasized adherence to international humanitarian law and awareness of the potential consequences of any actions involving nuclear facilities. They stated, "Along the relevant section of the front line, there was no active fighting at the time of the incident, and no weapons were used."
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed “serious concern” regarding the incident via a post on social media platform X. Ukraine's state nuclear supervisory agency also stated that any damage alleged by Russia needs to be verified by IAEA experts who are present at the Zaporizhzhia plant as part of their long-term monitoring mission.
The Zaporizhzhia power plant has faced repeated shelling since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, heightening fears of a potential nuclear disaster. Both Moscow and Kyiv have traded accusations regarding who is responsible for targeting the facility.
In a separate development, Ukraine's air force reported that it shot down 212 out of 299 drones launched by Russia during the overnight assault. They indicated that 14 drones managed to reach their intended targets, with drone debris landing in five locations.
Conversely, Russian drones targeted the city of Dnipro and an oil refinery in Ukraine's Rivne region, causing fires, although no injuries were reported at the refinery, according to Oleksandr Koval, the head of Rivne's regional administration. Emergency services have been deployed to the site.
