Incident Overview
On Sunday, a major fire erupted at an oil storage facility in the Rostov region of southern Russia, following a Ukrainian drone strike. This blaze has led to significant injuries among the firefighters responding to the emergency.
Drone Attack Details
The Rostov region Governor, Vasily Golubev, reported that the fire began in the early hours of Sunday morning. Ukrainian drones targeted the Kavkaz oil and petroleum storage facility after Russian air defenses intercepted them. The Ukrainian military has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Firefighter Injuries
As of Monday afternoon, over 40 firefighters have been injured while combating the blaze. Eighteen of these firefighters are receiving extended medical care, with five currently in intensive care units. The firefighting efforts are ongoing, more than 24 hours after the initial drone strike.
Explosion and Response
A video shared by the Telegram news channel Ostorozhno Novosti later captured a new explosion at the site. The footage shows personnel from Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry working to manage the massive fire. In the video, a voice on the radio notes, “We’ve burned a little here.”
Geographical Context
The town of Proletarsk, where the incident occurred, is approximately 250 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and about 350 kilometers from the front lines in eastern Ukraine, which are currently controlled by Kyiv’s forces.
Historical Context
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kyiv has repeatedly targeted oil and gas facilities within Russia. These strikes are described by Ukraine as a “fair” response to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Conclusion
The fire at the Kavkaz oil and petroleum storage facility underscores the ongoing tensions and the impact of the conflict on both sides. Efforts to control the blaze continue as the situation develops.