Russia in flames as desperate firefighters struggle to control oil refinery inferno

A oil refinery which supplies a key air base is still in flames more than 24 hours after it was targeted in a air strike – with footage showing firefighters desperately battling to bring the blaze under control.

In a further blow for , a picture has shown smoke billowing high into the sky after an apparent missile strike in the Kursk Oblast.

The Ukrainian military said it struck a fuel storage depot deep inside , causing a huge blaze at the facility that supplies an important Russian air base, which refuels nuclear bombers.

Russian officials acknowledged a major drone attack in the area, and said that authorities had set up an emergency command centre to fight the fire.

’s General Staff said the assault hit the storage facility near Engels, in ’s Saratov region, about 370 miles east of the Ukrainian border. The depot supplied a nearby airfield used by aircraft that launch missiles across the border into , a statement on Facebook said.

has been developing its arsenal of domestically produced long-range missiles and drones capable of reaching deep behind the front line as it faces restrictions on the range that its military can fire its Western-supplied missiles into .

Former Ukrainian Interior Ministerial adviser Anton Geraschenko, who shared clips via X, commented: “Emergency services are struggling to extinguish the fire at the oil refinery in Engels, Russian Telegram channels report.

“Over the past 24 hours, firefighters have tried to use foam to stop the fire with no success. Now, they are reportedly expecting reinforcements and other equipment to arrive from neighbouring regions and will try again. If the attempt is not successful, they are simply planning to let the oil reserves burn out.”

He added: “The oil refinery stored kerosene fuel used by the Russian Air Force stationed at the airfield nearby.

“The bombers and fighter jets from Engels are routinely used in ’s attacks on . Reportedly, the airfield is already experiencing a fuel shortage.”

The Borderland Telegram account said Kursk had also been targeted, explaining: “One civilian was injured due to Ukrainian mortar shelling in Tetkino, Kursk Oblast, on January 8.

“A missile attack threat has been reported in the region, resulting in a large plume of smoke rising in the Gorshechensky District.

“A large fire is currently burning in the Starooskolsky District of Belgorod Oblast, near the border with Kursk Oblast.

“Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted a drone attack on the Cherkizovo Chicken Kingdom meat production facility in Kursk Oblast, injuring one employee.”

The attacks have disrupted Russian logistics in the war, which began on February 24, 2022, and embarrassed the Kremlin.

Ukrainian President said last year his country has developed a weapon that could hit a target 400 miles away. Some Ukrainian drone attacks have hit targets more than 600 miles away.

The governor of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, said an unspecified industrial plant in Engels sustained damage from the falling drone debris that sparked a fire, but nobody was hurt.

Engels, which has a population of more than 220,000, is on the left bank of the Volga River, and is home to multiple industrial plants. Saratov, a major industrial city of about 900,000, faces Engels across the river.

“The damage to the oil base creates serious logistical problems for the strategic aviation of the Russian occupiers and significantly reduces their ability to strike peaceful Ukrainian cities and civilian objects. To be continued,” the statement from ’s General Staff said.

Russian authorities restricted flights early Wednesday at the airports of Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Kazan and Nizhnekamsk, in an apparent response to the Ukrainian attack.

The main base of ’s nuclear-capable strategic bombers is just outside Engels. It has come under Ukrainian drone attacks since the early stages of the war, forcing the Russian military to relocate most of the bombers to other areas.