In the early hours of August 19, fires broke out in the Russian city of Volgograd following the crash of drone debris. The blazes occurred at a local oil refinery and a hospital.
According to Ukrinform, citing BBC News Russian, the information was confirmed by Volgograd Region Governor Andrey Bocharov. He claimed that a large-scale drone attack had been repelled and reported no casualties.
The Telegram channel Astra noted that Russia’s aviation authority temporarily closed Volgograd Airport.
Photos shared by local residents show flames engulfing parts of the city following the drone strikes.
DW, also citing Bocharov, reported that the fire at the refinery occurred on the premises of Lukoil. Additionally, a blaze erupted at Hospital No. 16, where the roof of one building caught fire. Firefighters were deployed to contain and extinguish both fires.
The refinery and hospital are located just a few kilometers apart. Residents in Volgograd and its suburbs reported hearing more than 15 explosions overnight.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed that 13 drones were allegedly shot down over Volgograd region and the annexed Crimean Peninsula during the night of August 18–19.
As previously reported by Ukrinform, the Syzran oil refinery operated by Rosneft in Russia’s Samara region halted operations following a Ukrainian drone strike on August 15.
Source: Drone strike sparks fires at oil refinery in Russia’s Volgograd
