KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian drones attacked a significant gas processing facility in southern Russia, igniting a fire and prompting the plant to halt gas intake from Kazakhstan, according to officials from both countries. The incident occurred at the Orenburg plant, operated by the state-owned Gazprom, which is situated near the Kazakh border. This facility is among the largest of its kind globally, with an annual processing capacity of 45 billion cubic meters.
Regional Governor Yevgeny Solntsev reported that the drone strikes caused a fire in a workshop at the plant and inflicted damage, although he confirmed there were no casualties. Ukraine's General Staff stated that a "large-scale fire" erupted at the Orenburg facility, damaging one of its gas processing and purification units.
In addition to the Orenburg attack, Ukrainian officials claimed that a separate drone strike targeted the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery in the Samara region, also near Orenburg. This facility, managed by Rosneft, has an annual capacity of 4.9 million tons and produces over 20 types of oil-based products. Russian authorities have not yet acknowledged the damage from this strike.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its air defense systems intercepted 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 12 over Samara, one over Orenburg, and 11 over the neighboring Saratov region. Meanwhile, Ukraine has intensified its assaults on Russian energy infrastructure, which it claims supports Moscow's military operations.
In related developments, Ukrainian prosecutors have accused Russia of modifying its aerial-guided bombs to target civilians more effectively. Local officials in Kharkiv reported that Russia used a new rocket-powered aerial bomb, the UMPB-5R, in an attack on the city of Lozava, located 150 kilometers south of Kharkiv. This weapon can travel up to 130 kilometers (80 miles).
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian drone strikes injured at least 11 people and damaged multiple buildings, including 14 five-story residential structures and a store, according to acting regional Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko.
U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that Ukraine may need to concede territory to end the ongoing conflict with Russia. In a recent interview, he stated, "Well, he’s going to take something," referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin's potential demands. Trump’s comments reflect a shift in his stance on the war, as he has previously shown support for Ukraine's efforts to reclaim lost territory.
Trump also expressed hesitance about supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, stating, "I’m looking at it" but raised concerns about depleting U.S. military resources. The Tomahawk missiles would enable Ukraine to strike targets deep within Russia, including Moscow, which could influence negotiations with the Kremlin.
As tensions continue to escalate, both Russian and Ukrainian officials have expressed cautious optimism about an upcoming summit between Trump and Putin, although significant breakthroughs are not anticipated. Trump recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, but did not commit to providing the requested missiles.
The situation remains fluid as both sides prepare for further developments in the ongoing conflict.