Armor factory and gas terminal: What is known about night drone raid on Russia
Photo: Russia was attacked by drones on January 21, fires broke out (Getty Images)
In Russia, the night of January 21 was marked by loud events in several regions. Explosions and fires were reported, notably at the factory assembling the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile system and the gas terminal in the port.
Sources used in preparing the material include Telegram channels Mash, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Governor of the Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko, Wikipedia, and local Russian Telegram channels.
Leningrad region
During the night, explosions were heard in the vicinity of the oil terminal in the seaport of Ust-Luga. A powerful fire erupted there.
The Governor of the Leningrad Region reported that, allegedly, the personnel were evacuated, and no one was harmed. However, based on images circulating online, it can be concluded that the fire was extensive.
Local residents on social media claimed that a heightened state of alert had supposedly been declared.
Online reports suggested that the fire at the Ust-Luga port was caused by drones, with claims that two drones attacked the Novatek gas terminal. Novatek is one of the largest producers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) globally and one of the major exporters of Russian LNG.
Let's add that the town of Ust-Luga is located over 1000 km away from the borders of Ukraine.
Tula
Late in the evening on January 20, explosions were heard even in the Russian city of Tula. Russians claimed that a drone was supposedly shot down there. However, videos depicting the hit began to circulate on the internet.
Later, it was reported online that drones attacked the Shcheglovsky Val military plant, where they assemble the anti-aircraft missile systems Pantsir-S and Pantsir-S1.
From open sources, it is known that Shcheglovsky Val is one of the largest enterprises in Russia's defense industry. The plant is involved in the development of guided weapons for ground forces, air defense systems, rapid-fire cannons, and infantry weapons. The facility also modernizes old weaponry.
Another explosions
Russians claimed that explosions were also heard during the night in the Oryol and Smolensk regions of Russia. For the third consecutive night, explosions echoed in the city of Klintsy in the Bryansk region. Russians asserted that air defense systems were supposedly in operation.
What the Russian Ministry of Defense says
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have repelled drone attacks in the Oryol, Tula, and Smolensk regions. No information on any damage or consequences has been reported.
In the summary provided by the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding the Leningrad Region, where the gas terminal was ablaze, there is no mention at all.
