NIZHNEKAMSK, Russia — A Ukrainian drone strike killed at least 13 people, including a child, and wounded 39 others in the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk, regional and Russian federal authorities said on Monday, in one of the heaviest civilian death tolls reported in Russia in months.
Russian investigators opened a criminal case over what they described as a terrorist attack, saying the strike hit residential areas and killed civilians, including a child. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said industrial facilities and residential buildings had been hit and accused Kyiv of deliberately targeting civilians. Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly denied intentionally targeting civilians.
Ukraine's military said its forces had struck Tatneft's TANECO oil refinery in Tatarstan, about 800 km (500 miles) east of Moscow, and reported a fire at the facility. The refinery, one of Russia's major oil-processing sites, was also hit by a Ukrainian strike in June.
The Uzbek consulate in Kazan said seven Uzbek citizens were among those killed. Russian state news agency TASS, citing Tajik authorities, reported that a Tajik citizen was also among the dead. Russian state media said nine of the 13 victims had been staying in a hostel when the strike occurred, although Reuters could not immediately independently verify that account.
Videos verified by Reuters showed smoke rising above the refinery following the attack. Russian authorities said residential areas were also affected.
The strike comes as Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure, saying the campaign is intended to put pressure on Moscow and increase the cost of its war against Ukraine. Kyiv has increasingly used long-range drones to strike targets deep inside Russia, while Moscow has continued to launch missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
The TANECO refinery processed about 17 million metric tons of crude oil in 2024, producing about 2.7 million tons of gasoline and 8.5 million tons of diesel, according to refinery data cited by Reuters.
The latest casualties followed other deadly attacks reported by both sides over the weekend. Ukrainian authorities said a Russian attack on Kharkiv killed three people and wounded 37, while authorities in Russia's Belgorod region said a Ukrainian drone attack killed five people and wounded 25.
Russian authorities said investigations and emergency operations at the affected sites were continuing.
