Fires, explosions, and closed airports: Consequences of massive drone strikes on Russia

In the evening before, on January 23, several Russian regions were reporting the danger of air attacks. In particular, the threat of drone strikes was reported in Moscow, Rostov, Kursk, Bryansk, Tambov, Lipetsk, and Tula regions. A similar announcement was made for the temporarily occupied Crimea.

Later, the network began to report explosions on the territory of Russia in many regions and cities.

Ryazan

At about 11:30 p.m., local authorities reported on the allegedly successful work of air defense to eliminate drones in the Ryazan region. According to the governor of the region, Pavel Malkov, there were no casualties, and “material damage is being assessed.”

Later, reports about a series of explosions (about ten) in the regional center and the work of air defense began to appear on Ryazan Telegram channels.

There were also reports of severe fires - first in the area of the Ryazan oil refinery, then on the territory of the Novo-Ryazan thermal power plant.

In addition, Russian media and monitoring channels also reported that the Dyagilevo military air base on the outskirts of Ryazan could have come under attack. According to open data, Tu-95 and Tu-22 aircraft are deployed there, and the 360th aircraft repair plant is located nearby.

The governor of the Ryazan region said that as a result of the air attack on Ryazan, “the drone's wreckage hit a private house.”

“A fire broke out and was extinguished as soon as possible. There were no casualties,” the Russian official wrote on Telegram.

The governor did not say anything about the burning refinery or thermal power plant in Ryazan, despite the numerous relevant images on the network.

Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, commented online on the information about the burning plant of the Ryazan Oil Refinery Company, which is part of Rosneft.

He noted that this facility is one of the key ones in the Russian oil industry and plays an important role in providing fuel for both the civilian and military-industrial complex of Russia.

He also added that the enterprise produces fuel for military equipment, aviation kerosene, diesel fuel, and other types of petroleum products used in tanks, aircraft, ships, and other equipment of the Russian Army.

Moscow and the region

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed that drones attempted to attack the Russian capital. According to him, air defense systems were operating in the region, and several UAVs were allegedly eliminated.

The mayor of Russia's capital said that a drone attack was so-called repelled in the Kolomna urban district and the Ramensky urban district. They were allegedly flying towards Moscow.

Later, he stated that 2 more drones were shot down in the Podolsk urban district, 1 more UAV was eliminated in the Troitsky administrative district of Moscow, and then 1 more in the Shchelkovo urban district.

All of them, according to Sobyanin, were flying toward the Russian capital.

He also added that emergency services specialists are working at the scene. There were no reports of any damaged facilities or injuries.

Bryansk and Engels

Russian networks and Telegram channels also reported a drone strike on Bryansk that night.

In this city, the Kremniy plant was allegedly targeted by drones. The facility was hit, followed by a fire.

Footage of the allegedly burning plant was posted online, with a column of smoke visible above it.

Meanwhile, the Mash Telegram channel wrote that in Bryansk “the wreckage of the destroyed drone fell near the production facility.”

At the same time, the governor of the Bryansk region, Alexander Bogomaz, wrote on his Telegram that air defense systems were operating in the region due to an air attack using drones. The Russian official did not disclose any other details.

In the morning, Kovalenko also spoke about the Bryansk plant that was attacked today. He pointed out that the Kremlin produces microelectronics for missile systems, Pantsyr air defense systems, and Iskander missiles, as well as for radar and electronic warfare systems, and Russian drones.

“This is at least the third attack by unknown drones on this enterprise,” he added.

There was also information about a UAV strike on Engels, Saratov region. Russian media reported that the drones allegedly tried to attack a local oil refinery. About 7 explosions were heard in the city, and air defense operations continued in the region.

“The attack preliminarily involved long-range UAVs such as the Lutyi and 2.5-meter kamikaze drones Bober,” the Telegram channel said.

Saratov, Tatarstan and beyond

On the night of January 24, an air raid alert was sounded in Saratov due to the threat of drones. Local public media reported on the work of air defense in the region.

The governor of the region, Roman Busargin, said in the early morning that “UAVs were allegedly eliminated” in the region.

“There were no casualties or damage,” he added.

In addition, the Russian media also reported on the threat of a UAV attack in Tatarstan.

Plan Carpet at Russian airports

Shortly after midnight, Rosaviatsia announced the temporary suspension of the operation of Domodedovo International Airport near Moscow and Zhukovsky Airport in the Moscow region.

Later it became known that the Carpet plan was also introduced at Moscow's Vnukovo airport. This plan is announced if there is a threat of aircraft being hit or if a crossing of the Russian border is detected. Measures include banning and suspending landings and departures.

In addition, at night, the Russian side also announced restrictions on the operation of the airports of Kazan, Samara, Penza, Saratov, and Nizhnekamsk.

In the morning, Rosaviatsiya also announced “temporary restrictions on the reception and departure of aircraft” at Ufa airport.

Russian Defense Ministry reports on “repelling” drone attacks in the regions

In the morning, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the “interception and destruction” of 121 UAVs overnight. Russian's Defense Ministry claims that the drones were Ukrainian. And that they were shot down in a total of 10 regions and over the occupied Crimea.

Thus, according to the Russian ministry, drones were eliminated:

• 37 UAVs were “destroyed” in the Bryansk region,
• 20 - in the Ryazan region,
• 17 - in the Kursk region,
• 17 - in Saratov region,
• 6 - in the Moscow region,
• 6 - in the Belgorod region,
• 3 - in the Voronezh region,
• 2 - in the Tula region,
• 2 - in the Oryol region,
• 2 - in the Lipetsk region,
• 1 - over Moscow,
• and 1 in the occupied Crimea.

Later, the Russian Ministry of Defense updated its list of “downed” drones that night and said that an attack was also “repelled” in the Leningrad region. They allegedly destroyed 3 UAVs.

That is, we are talking about drone attacks at night and in the morning in 11 regions of Russia and the occupied Ukrainian Crimea.

Sources: Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Governors of Bryansk Region Alexander Bogomaz, Governor of Ryazan Region Pavel Maskov, Governor of Saratov Region Roman Busargin, the social media account of the head of the Center for Political Analysis Andrii Kovalenko, Russian Telegram channels, and Astra.

Recently, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, said that strikes on Russian territory affect the combat capabilities of Russian troops. The general noted that in a few months, the consumption rates of artillery ammunition in the Russian army had halved.

According to Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, the strikes of the Ukrainian Defense Forces on Russian oil depots have already brought results. He explained that Russia is now relying more on infantry in its offensives at the front.