Large fire continues at Russian oil depot after Ukrainian drone strike

Firefighters in southern Russia’s Rostov region are struggling to contain a large fire at the Kavkaz oil and petroleum storage facility. It has been two days since a Ukrainian drone strike allegedly ignited the blaze.

The fire began on Sunday, Aug. 18, after Russian air defense systems intercepted drones in the town of Proletarsk. It continues to spread and has already consumed over 107,000 square feet.

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The flames have now engulfed 20 of the facility’s 74 fuel tanks, posing significant challenges for firefighting teams. More than 520 firefighters and four aircraft have been deployed to tackle the blaze, but intense heat has made it nearly impossible for fire trucks to approach the site.

“There’s too much heat, the fire trucks can’t get any closer,” Proletarsk district head Valery Gornich told Russian media.

Gov. Vasily Golubev reported that 41 firefighters have required medical attention, with five of them placed in emergency care. Officials expect the fire to continue for several more days due to its intensity and the vast area it has spread across.

Proletarsk is situated approximately 155 miles from the Ukrainian border and 217 miles from areas in eastern Ukraine controlled by Kyiv. The town has become a target in Ukraine’s strategy of hitting Russian energy infrastructure.

Ukraine has framed these strikes as retaliation for Russia’s ongoing attacks on its own energy facilities, while Moscow has labeled the drone strikes as acts of terrorism.

The attack on the Kavkaz facility is part of a larger pattern of drone strikes carried out by Ukraine in recent months. They focus on disrupting Russia’s energy supply chains. The conflict has seen Russian airstrikes pound Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Those attacks are now being mirrored by Ukraine’s counteroffensive on Russian oil and gas depots.

While no injuries have been reported from the drone strike itself, the fire and its aftermath have strained local resources.