Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Russia on Sunday, triggering a fire at one of the country’s largest nuclear plants and sparking a huge blaze at Novatek’s Ust-Luga fuel export terminal, Russian officials confirmed.
The strikes came on August 24 — Ukraine’s Independence Day — as the war, now in its third year, rages along the 2,000 km front line and deep inside both nations with missile and drone attacks.
According to Russia’s defence ministry, at least 95 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across more than a dozen regions during the overnight assault.
Fire at Kursk Nuclear Plant
The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), located just 60 km from the Ukrainian border, reported that air defences had shot down a drone near the facility shortly after midnight. The detonation damaged an auxiliary transformer, forcing a 50% reduction in the operating capacity of Reactor No. 3.
The plant assured that radiation levels remained normal and no injuries were reported. While two reactors are currently idle, one for scheduled repairs, officials confirmed the fire caused by the strike had been contained.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was aware of the incident, reiterating that nuclear facilities must be safeguarded against military activity at all times.
Blaze at Ust-Luga Fuel Terminal
In a separate strike nearly 1,000 km north, at least 10 drones targeted the strategic Ust-Luga port in Russia’s Leningrad region, setting ablaze Novatek’s massive fuel export terminal.
Regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko said debris from downed drones caused the fire, but confirmed there were no casualties. Dramatic, unverified footage circulating on Russian social media showed a drone slamming into a fuel tank, followed by a massive fireball and thick black smoke towering into the sky.
The Ust-Luga complex, operated by Novatek, processes gas condensate into jet fuel, naphtha, fuel oil, and gasoil for international markets, with exports reaching Asia and Turkey.
Wider Impact Across Russia
The strikes also disrupted civilian life. Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said several airports, including Pulkovo in St. Petersburg, were forced to suspend flights overnight.
Meanwhile, in the Samara region, a drone hit an industrial site in the city of Syzran, injuring a child. Earlier this month, the Ukrainian military claimed to have struck the Rosneft-owned Syzran oil refinery, forcing a temporary shutdown.
Kyiv’s Silence
Ukraine has not officially commented on the latest wave of drone strikes. However, Kyiv has consistently said that such operations are retaliation for Moscow’s relentless bombardments and are aimed at crippling infrastructure vital to Russia’s military effort.
As both sides continue to talk of peace, the Independence Day assault underscores that the war — Europe’s deadliest since World War Two — shows no sign of slowing down.
