Authorities in the Tatarstan region stated that a Ukrainian drone attack on Monday in the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk resulted in 12 deaths and injured 39 others.
Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil facilities with long-range drones nearly every day in recent months. This barrage has led to fuel shortages within Russia, reduced Russian refining capacity, and created public unrest among Russians.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that this campaign aims to compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiations and halt his invasion, which is more than four years old.
According to the press service of Tatarstan's head, Rustam Minnikhanov, Nizhnekamsk experienced a "massive" drone attack on Monday morning targeting both industrial and civilian facilities. No additional details were immediately provided.
Ukrainian officials did not issue an immediate comment.
Nizhnekamsk is located approximately 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) east of the Ukrainian border and has a population of about 240,000. The city functions as a key oil refining hub, hosting two refineries and a petrochemical plant.
Ukraine's domestically developed long-range drones have been flying farther into Russia, with some now reaching Siberia, roughly 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from the border between the countries.
Zelenskyy said late Sunday on social media, "We do deliver entirely justified responses, and every Russian strike will be met with our response. Russia’s war will be felt more and more at their own home – in Russia." He added, "The only reason this is still continuing is Russia’s unwillingness to end this war.”
The United Nations reports that Russia has also regularly attacked Ukraine from the air using missiles, powerful glide bombs, and drones, striking civilian areas and causing thousands of civilian casualties.
On Monday, the World Health Organization’s European office reported that one of its warehouses in Ukraine's central Dnipro region was struck twice within less than 24 hours. The organization stated in a release that these attacks destroyed emergency supplies valued at an estimated $500,000 intended for front-line health facilities.
No casualties were reported from the WHO warehouse strikes.