Ukrainian drones targeted a key Russian explosives factory and an oil depot deep within Russian territory, coinciding with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s historic visit to Kyiv.
The Tambov Gunpowder Plant near Kotovsk, located 310 miles from the Russia-Ukraine border, was among the facilities hit in the drone assault. The plant is a crucial supplier of explosive materials for the Russian military. Despite air defense efforts, drones penetrated the defenses, triggering explosions and fires at the site.
Authorities deployed firefighters and special fire trains from neighboring regions to contain the blaze at the 23-tank depot, which supplies fuel to the Russian army.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the attack, stating, “During the night, air defense systems on duty intercepted and eliminated three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles.”
Alexander Gusev, the governor of Voronezh Region, reported that more than 10 drones targeted the area, with several striking an oil depot in the Liskinsky district.
This drone assault follows Kyiv’s largest aerial bombardment of the war, which destroyed multiple military facilities inside Russian territory, including targets as far as 680 miles behind enemy lines.
Ukrainian forces used a tactical combination of drones and missiles, exploiting gaps in Russian air defenses. Key sites, including oil storage plants, refineries, ammunition works, and guided bomb depots, were left ablaze in Engels, Saratov, Kazan, Bryansk, and Tula.
The attack occurred as Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv to solidify a historic 100-year partnership between the UK and Ukraine. Starmer, making his first visit to Kyiv as prime minister, emphasized the “unbreakable bond” between the two nations.
The partnership aims to rebuild Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, develop greener steel production, and mine critical minerals, with British companies and private sector loans providing key support. The pact also includes joint efforts in drone and space technology development and maritime security coordination in the Baltic, Azov, and Black Seas.
Starmer described the UK as Ukraine’s “preferred partner” for reconstruction and highlighted the importance of collaboration in securing long-term stability in the region.
The strikes and diplomatic efforts come as discussions of a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia gain momentum. Speculation has increased following comments by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump, set to take office on January 20, has claimed he could broker peace within 24 hours of his inauguration. Lammy, however, suggested that a peace deal could materialize by Easter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains steadfast in his five-step “victory plan,” prioritizing Ukraine’s security guarantees and closer ties with NATO to deter future aggression.
