On the 20th (local time), Ukraine attacked energy infrastructure on Russian mainland.
According to local authorities, around 2 a.m. that day, Ukrainian forces began a drone attack on an energy complex facility in the Kardimovsky area of Smolensk in southwestern Russia. Smolensk borders Belarus and is close to northern Ukraine.
Russian air defense forces shot down the drones, but fragments fell and caused a fire in the fuel and lubricant storage, according to Vasily Anokin, governor of Smolensk.
Earlier, in January, Ukrainian forces had consecutively bombed oil terminals in Russia's Leningrad, Bryansk, and the Crimean Peninsula. In response, the U.S. government reportedly requested Ukraine to halt strikes on related facilities, expressing concerns that damage to Russia's oil facilities?Russia being one of the largest oil producers?could destabilize international oil prices and provoke retaliatory attacks.
However, the Ukrainian military stated, "From a military perspective, energy facilities are legitimate targets," and has been increasing the frequency of airstrikes targeting energy infrastructure on Russian mainland.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
