Russia: Energy sites on fire after drone strikes

Energy sites caught fire Wednesday after drone strikes in the Russian region of Smolensk, about 400 km from the Ukrainian border, regional governor Vassily Anokin said.

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“Our region has once again been targeted by Ukrainian drone strikes,” the governor wrote in a telegram. “Mostly, following enemy attacks on civilian energy infrastructure sites, the fire broke out,” the governor added, without further details on the affected sites.

He added that there was no loss of life in the attack. The Russian Emergencies Ministry sent rescue workers to the scene.

Another drone strike on Wednesday targeted the special economic zone of the city of Lipetsk, which is 400 km from the Ukrainian border but further south and is home to metallurgical and pharmaceutical companies, the region's governor said in a telegram. Igor Artamonov.

“The criminal regime in Kyiv tried to strike infrastructure in the Lipetsk industrial zone,” Artamonov said. He assured that there was no loss of life and no threat to residential areas.

The Ukrainian military has increased its drone strikes over Russian territory in recent months, particularly targeting energy sites.