Ukraine Drones Hit Saratov Refinery, Deny Plant Claim

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- Saratov refinery was struck by Ukrainian drones, igniting a large‑scale fire, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.
- Rostov fuel depot was hit by Ukrainian drones, sparking a fire and prompting evacuations, per Ukraine’s General Staff.
- Lazarevo pumping station in Russia’s Kirov region was targeted by Ukrainian drones, disrupting oil flow from Siberia to Belarus, per Ukraine’s General Staff.
- Rosatom alleged a Ukrainian kamikaze drone detonated in the turbine hall of the Zaporizhzhia plant; Ukraine denied the strike, labeling the claim propaganda.
- Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA, voiced serious concern over the alleged attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility.
Why it matters: Russia's war logistics lose fuel as Ukrainian drones cripple Rosneft's Saratov refinery and the Lazarevo pumping station—over 1,200 km from Ukrainian lines—while the IAEA’s alarm over Zaporizhzhia heightens nuclear safety scrutiny.
