Ukrainian forces used two helicopters to attack a fuel depot in Russia on Friday, causing a massive fire, according to a Russian official.
The alleged airstrike occurred in Belgorod, Russia, just 25 miles from the Ukrainian border. Videos on social media reportedly of the attack show helicopters firing missiles toward the ground followed by an explosion. Eight of the 16 fuel tanks at the facility, owned by Russian oil company Rosneft, are on fire, according to Russian media. The alleged attack comes two days after a Ukrainian official told the Washington Examiner that his country has the right to attack targets inside Russian territory.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region, said that two Ukrainian armed forces helicopters entered Russian territory at low altitude on Friday to conduct the airstrike, according to Russian media reports.
Several alleged videos of the attack posted on social media show missiles striking a target on the ground and two helicopters flying near the blast.
#BREAKING: New video showing two Ukrainian likely Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters striking Belgorod city oil depot with air-ground rockets pic.twitter.com/yOBV07WBkY
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) April 1, 2022
The mayor of Belgorod told Russian media that two people inside the facility at the time of the blast were not injured. Rosneft also said in a statement that no one was hurt in the fire.
City officials are evacuating residents in the vicinity of the fire.
CAUSE OF RUSSIAN AMMUNITION DEPOT EXPLOSION NEAR UKRAINE BORDER UNKNOWN
Ukrainian authorities have yet to comment on the alleged attack, and Gladkov’s claims could not be independently verified.
Video reportedly of the two Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopters that took part in the attack on the oil facility in Belgorod. https://t.co/Ue5sVJPPZ8 pic.twitter.com/NRpEAHcc4B
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 1, 2022
Long lines of cars appeared at gas stations in Belgorod hours after the attack. Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov said the fire at the Rosneft facility would not affect the region’s fuel supplies or prices for consumers.
There are Massive Lines at Gas Stations in the Belgorod Region of Western Russia after a Ukrainian Helicopter Assault destroyed an Oil Depot in the City, Russian Citizens in the area Fear more Ukrainian Strikes as some people begin to Panic and Stock up on Essential Goods. pic.twitter.com/cpvAZ9QTAR
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 1, 2022
A senior Ukrainian government official told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that the country’s armed forces have the right to target munitions depots in Russia.
“We could do it, for sure, but … that arsenal is very close to the city of Belgorod, and there are a lot of civilians in that city. … This is not our way of fighting this war,” Oleksandr V. Danilyuk told the Washington Examiner.
#BREAKING: Video reportedly of Ukrainian attack helicopters striking oil facility in Belgorod, across the border inside Russia pic.twitter.com/NfQVJ97rbA
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) April 1, 2022
The alleged attack on the oil depot in Belgorod comes three days after an ammunition depot exploded in the same region of Russia.
On Tuesday, Russian media reported that an ammunition depot at a military base in Belgorod exploded. The cause of that explosion is unclear.
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Danilyuk denied Ukraine was responsible for Tuesday’s ammunition depot explosion.
“Not this one because it was too close to Russian civilians, but of course we will try to destroy their capabilities,” Danilyuk said.
