Kiev's drones are increasingly striking deep into Russia and putting its energy infrastructure under pressure

MOSCOW.– Ukrainian drones are hitting deeper inside Russia. Ukraine attacked the oil refinery center in Nizhnekamsk, in the Tatarstan region, in central Russia, killing 13 people and injuring 78 others, local authorities reported, in one of the deadliest attacks in the country in over 4 years of war. The Ukrainian army said it attacked an oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, which is about 1200 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border and has a population of about 240,000 residents. Major Robert "Magyar" Brovdi in the control room during a long-range drone operation against Russian positions at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, Friday, August 7, 2026Dan Bashakov - APRussian officials did not specify what the drones targeted, but the city hosts two refineries and a petrochemical plant. Ukraine has been attacking Russian oil facilities with long-range drones almost daily in recent months. The campaign has caused fuel shortages in Russia, reduced refining capacity, and worried the population. Other Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil with a high death toll have occurred in the Belgorod border region. In December 2023, Ukrainian bombings in the regional capital, also called Belgorod, caused the death of 25 people and injured more than 100, according to local officials. Five months later, a Belgorod apartment building partially collapsed after a bombing, killing at least 13 people, according to Russian authorities. Also on Monday, several Ukrainian drones caused a fire at an industrial facility in the Tyumen region, in western Siberia, said Governor Alexander Moor, without providing details. Ukraine's General Staff said its forces damaged part of a petrochemical complex in Tobolsk, in the Tyumen region. The plant produces rocket fuel components, aviation fuel, drone composite materials, and high-octane gasoline, it said in a Telegram post. Last month, Ukrainian drones attacked a refinery in Tyumen, more than 2400 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZelenskyAlex Brandon - APUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says his country is trying to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to sit at the negotiation table and stop his large-scale invasion launched in 2022. Russia is one of the world's largest energy producers. Ukraine's General Staff said its forces attacked a Taneco oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, causing a fire. The city was subjected to a "massive" drone attack targeting industrial and civilian facilities, according to the press service of Tatarstan's head, Rustam Minnikhanov. One of the drones hit a hotel, killing nine of the 13 victims, including citizens of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, authorities said. Uzbekistan's consular office in Tatarstan said seven of its nationals died. In this photo provided by Ukraine's Emergency Service, a damaged residential building is seen after a Russian airstrike in Sumy, Ukraine, Thursday, August 6, 2026Ukrainian Emergency ServiceA child was among the dead, along with 75 injured, the press service said, adding that Monday was declared a day of mourning in Tatarstan. Independent verification of any of the parties' claims was not possible. Russia's Foreign Ministry urged foreign governments and international organizations to condemn Ukraine for the attacks. Russia has also regularly struck Ukraine from the air using missiles, powerful glide bombs, and drones, attacking civilian areas and causing thousands of civilian casualties, according to the United Nations. In the first six months of this year, 1396 civilians died and 7978 were injured in Ukraine, the UN office in Kyiv said last week. That was a 37% increase compared to the same period last year, it said. Russian attackA Russian glide bomb hit the city of Zaporizhzhia, in southern Ukraine, injuring 24 people, authorities reported Monday. The city is the capital of a region of the same name that is partially occupied by Russian forces. The European office of the World Health Organization said one of its warehouses in the central Ukrainian region of Dnipro had been hit twice in less than 24 hours. The attacks destroyed emergency supplies valued at about $500,000 intended for frontline health centers, it said in a statement. No victims were reported. In this image provided by Ukraine's Emergency Service, emergency personnel work to extinguish a fire in residential buildings after a Russian attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Sunday, August 9, 2026Ukrainian Emergency ServiceUkrainian-made long-range drones have traveled increasing distances inside Russia, some now reaching Siberia, about 2000 kilometers from the border between the two countries.“Yes, we give fully justified responses, and every Russian attack will have our response. Russia's war will increasingly be felt in its own home, in Russia,” Zelensky said late Sunday on social media.“The only reason this still continues is Russia's lack of willingness to end this war,” he added. As part of a parallel campaign to disrupt Russian military supply lines leading to the front line in eastern and southern Ukraine, Kyiv forces attacked road, rail, and pontoon bridges in six regions last month, the Defense Ministry reported Monday. By repeatedly attacking routes for fuel, ammunition, and reinforcements, Ukrainian commanders say they have made Russian logistics slower, more costly, and harder to organize. This has helped slow Russian advances and enabled Ukrainian counterattacks, they say. AP AgencyWar in Ukraine