Ukraine’s Drone Strike Hits Major Russian Gas Plant, Disrupts Kazakhstan Supply

Kyiv (The Uttam Hindu): The Russia-Ukraine war shows no signs of slowing down as tensions continue to escalate. On Sunday, Ukraine launched a massive drone strike targeting a major gas processing plant in southern Russia, disrupting gas supplies from Kazakhstan.

According to Russian officials, the attacked facility in Orenburg is one of the largest gas production and processing plants in the world, with an annual capacity of 45 billion cubic meters. The plant is operated by the Russian state-owned company Gazprom and primarily processes gas condensate from Kazakhstan’s Karachaganak region.

Regional Governor Yevgeny Solantsev confirmed that the drone strike caused a fire in one of the workshops, leading to partial structural damage. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry also confirmed that Gazprom had notified them of a temporary suspension in gas processing due to the attack.

The Ukrainian General Staff also released a statement confirming that a gas processing and refining unit at the Orenburg plant had been damaged by fire. Ukraine has intensified its strikes on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, arguing that these facilities directly fund Moscow’s war efforts.

Amid the escalating conflict, former U.S. President Donald Trump made a striking statement during an interview with Fox News, suggesting that peace might only be achieved if Ukraine agrees to cede some of its lost territories to Russia. Trump stated, “President Vladimir Putin will take something — and the U.S. is the only country that wins wars and gives back territory.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian prosecutors have accused Russia of modifying its air-guided bombs to target civilian areas. Reports claim that in Kharkiv, Russia used a new rocket-powered bomb, UMPB-5R, with a striking range of up to 130 kilometers.

In the Dnipro region, at least 11 people were injured and several buildings damaged following a Russian drone attack. Russia also reportedly attacked a coal mine, forcing the evacuation of 192 miners.

Additionally, Ukraine’s General Staff claimed responsibility for another drone strike on the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region. However, the Russian Defense Ministry said it successfully shot down 45 Ukrainian drones overnight.