Video showed at least two storage tanks engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke rising high into the sky.
06:56, Wed, Dec 3, 2025 Updated: 06:58, Wed, Dec 3, 2025
The aftermath of the apparent drone strike (Image: X)
Vladimir Putin’s war economy took another direct hit early Tuesday when Ukrainian kamikaze drones slammed into a major oil depot in Russia’s Tambov region, igniting a massive blaze roughly 450km southeast of Moscow. Tambov Region Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov confirmed the strike, stating it hit the Nikiforovskaya oil base near Dmitrievka shortly after 4am local time.
Widely circulated video showed at least two storage tanks engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke rising high into the sky. Pervyshov wrote on Telegram: “Air defence units were on duty. As a result of falling debris from downed UAVs, a fire broke out at a fuel storage facility." The statement, which attributes the damage to "falling debris" from "downed UAVs," is the standard Russian phrasing used when a Ukrainian drone successfully penetrates defences.
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Drone sanctions have been applied to another oil depot, this time in Dmitrievka, Tambov oblast.
This video shows the small fire from successfully intercepted drone debris, vigorously causing no damage whatsoever to the storage tank that intercepted it.
The depot, operated by Tambovnefteprodukt, is a critical logistics hub that supplies diesel and gasoline across central Russia, including fuel for military supply chains.
Ukraine has not officially claimed the attack, consistent with its longstanding policy regarding deep strikes on Russian territory.
The raid came less than 24 hours after similar drone strikes torched fuel depots in the Oryol and Krasnodar regions.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed it intercepted 102 drones across seven regions overnight, yet significant fires were confirmed in multiple locations.
Independent analysts recorded at least 14 confirmed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and fuel storage sites in November 2025 alone, making it the highest monthly total of the war.
Cumulative damage from these attacks has reportedly reduced Russia’s domestic refining capacity by an estimated 15% this year, according to industry monitors, which has led to domestic fuel rationing and export curbs.
Emergency services reported containing the Tambov blaze by late morning. While no casualties were reported, the facility remains offline, and local airports briefly suspended flights.
The strike is the latest demonstration that Ukraine’s long-range drone programme can now reach targets once considered untouchable, effectively bringing the consequences of Russia’s invasion deeper into its own territory.
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