Vladimir Putin has issued a dire warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the Russian city of Kazan was targeted in a spectacular drone attack yesterday, claiming: “they will face many times more destruction”.
Putin launched into his rant after Ukrainian drones targeted the Russian city of Kazan and struck a major fuel depot for the second time in just over a week, according to a senior Russian regional official, as part of a “massive” cross-border attack on fuel and energy facilities that Kyiv says supply Moscow’s military.
The attacks came days after Russia launched sweeping attacks on Ukraine’s already battered energy grid, threatening to plunge thousands of homes into darkness as winter tightens its grip over the region, and as the third anniversary of Russia’s all-out invasion approaches.
In remarks reported by Russian state-controlled news agency Tass, Putin said: “Whoever, and however much they try to destroy, they will face many times more destruction themselves and will regret what they are trying to do in our country.”
He added: “We will not only restore the damage that some attempt to cause to us but will also move forward even at a faster pace as we are doing now.
“We will develop road networks, urban and housing construction.”
In total, eight drones hit Kazan, in the Tatarstan region more than 600 miles from the front line, yesterday. Local authorities said there were no casualties.
Separately, a fire broke out at the Stalnoy Kon oil terminal in Russia’s southern Oryol region, local Governor Andrey Klychkov said in a post on the Telegram messaging app, adding Russian forces downed 20 drones targeting “fuel and energy infrastructure” in the province.
Russian independent news outlet Astra shared video of claimed it said was an explosion at the site, showing a massive orange blaze lighting up the night sky.
While the clip could not be independently verified, it was later shared by a Ukrainian security official who described it as footage from Oryol.
The official, Andriy Kovalenko of the Council of National Security and Defence, claimed the Oryol fuel depot supplies Russian forces fighting in Ukraine and southern Russia, including the Kursk province where Ukrainian troops have dug in following a lightning incursion in August.
According to Klychkov, the Russian local governor, the fire was extinguished hours later and did not cause casualties or “significant” damage.
Ukraine‘s military previously claimed to have struck the Stalnoy Kon terminal with drones on December 14, causing a “powerful” blaze.