For months, Ukrainian forces have been targeting energy installations on Russian territory, in response to Russian forces doing the same on Ukrainian soil. Recently, Russian Telegram channels reported a drone attack on an oil refinery in Voronezh and oil and energy installations in two districts of the Smolensk region, located about 400 km from the Ukrainian borders. The regional governor, Vasily Anokhine, confirmed the attacks and subsequent fires in the Voronezh refinery, while air defense forces in the region shot down four drones. The governor also reported a previous bombing of an electromechanical factory in the city.
Ukrainian drones also targeted oil refineries in the Smolensk region and Voronezh the night before, as well as a factory producing chassis for military equipment. The extent of the damage caused by these attacks is still unknown. In the Smolensk region, fires broke out at fuel and energy facilities following the drone attack, including an oil depot. In Lipetsk, residents reported multiple explosions in the industrial zone after drones attacked the Lipetsk tractor factory, although authorities claim the drones were shot down.
The Lipetsk Tractor Plant is part of Tractor Plants machine-building group and has been producing chassis for military vehicles since 2004. These coordinated drone attacks are part of Ukraine’s strategy to disrupt Russian military operations and slow down supply chains. The attacks on energy installations and industrial facilities in Russia demonstrate Kyiv’s willingness to escalate tactics in response to Russian aggression on Ukrainian territory.