Ukrainian drones target Russian energy hubs, disrupt flights

"A gas processing plant in Astrakhan was attacked. This is one of Russia's key energy facilities, handling the processing of gas condensate and the production of petrol, diesel, and other fuels," Kovalenko wrote on Telegram.

The head of the Ukrainian CCD stated that the plant holds significant importance for the Russian military-industrial complex, as the arms industry largely depends on the fuel and energy sector.

According to Reuters, Ukrainian drones disrupted flights at several airports in Russia. The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) suspended flights at the airports in Astrakhan, Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Vladikavkaz, Grozny, and Makhachkala.

Similar restrictions were implemented at the airport in Volgograd, where an explosion occurred at an oil refinery, leading to reported power outages.

Kovalenko assesses that the attacks on Russian refineries are aimed at halting the production of fuel that supplies the Russian armed forces. "It is important that the refinery in Volgograd stops producing petrol, diesel, heating oil, and aviation fuel supplied to the Russian army," noted the head of the CCD.

The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that air defence forces intercepted and destroyed 70 Ukrainian drones overnight: 27 in the airspace over the Rostov region, 25 over the Volgograd region, seven over the Astrakhan region, five over the Voronezh region, four over the Belgorod region, and two over the Kursk region.

Ukrainian expert Valeriy Romanenko noted on 30 January in a conversation with PAP that the Russian budget derives income primarily from the export of oil and oil products. Therefore, in recent months, Ukrainian drones have been intensively attacking Russian petrochemical enterprises.

According to Romanenko, Ukrainian operations on Russian territory are becoming increasingly effective.