At least 13 people have been killed and 75 others injured after Ukrainian drones struck the city of Nizhnekamsk in Russia’s Tatarstan republic overnight. An attack Russian officials are describing as one of the deadliest single attacks on Russian soil since the war began.
One child is among the dead. A period of mourning has been declared in Tatarstan. “This is a tremendous pain for all of us,” said Nizhnekamsk mayor Radmir Belayev. The head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, confirmed the strike and offered condolences to the families of the victims.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces confirmed that the Tanevo oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk was hit during the attack. Ukrainian defence technology manufacturer FirePoint stated that its FP-1 drones were used in the operation. Kyiv has not issued a broader comment on the strike.
The attack lasted several hours, from overnight into the following morning. Unverified footage circulating on social media showed large plumes of black smoke and flames rising above the city during daylight hours, with air raid sirens audible throughout.
Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed that both industrial facilities and residential areas were struck and said civilians with no involvement in military operations were among those caught in the attack. The BBC has not independently verified that claim.
A Chain of Attacks
Nizhnekamsk sits more than 1,100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, underscoring the increasing reach of Ukraine’s long-range drone capability. Ukraine previously struck oil refineries in the same city on June 12. Kyiv has been intensifying attacks on Russian energy and logistics infrastructure, framing the strikes as an effort to cut revenues and supply lines that Moscow uses to sustain its war.
Russia said its air defences shot down more than 450 Ukrainian drones overnight. The figure, if accurate, points to the scale of the overall operation of which the Tatarstan strike formed a part.
The exchange of fire is escalating in both directions. Last week, a combined Russian drone and missile strike on Kyiv killed 21 people. In Kharkiv, five people were killed overnight in a Russian artillery attack.
