NIZHNEKAMSK, Russia — At least 13 people, including a child, were killed and 39 others injured on Monday in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk, authorities in Russia’s Tatarstan region said.
Ukraine’s military said its forces struck the TANECO oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, about 800 km (497 miles) east of Moscow, as part of operations targeting Russian infrastructure. It said a fire was recorded at the facility.
Russian investigators said residential areas were also struck and opened a criminal case over what they described as a terrorist attack. Tatarstan authorities declared a period of mourning following the casualties.
Reuters verified videos showing smoke rising over the oil refinery after the attack. The refinery, operated by Tatneft, processed 17 million metric tons of crude oil in 2024, according to available company data cited by Reuters.
The attack was among the heaviest reported civilian death tolls from a Ukrainian strike in Russia in recent months. Ukraine has intensified long-range drone attacks against Russian oil facilities, saying the strikes are intended to reduce Moscow’s ability to wage war.
Both Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly said they do not deliberately target civilians. Reuters could not independently verify the circumstances surrounding all of the reported casualties.
Russian and Ukrainian authorities continued to issue conflicting accounts of strikes and casualties elsewhere as the latest attacks were being assessed.
