Ukrainian UAVs attacked the port of Taganrog and the Armavir oil depot in southern Russia.
Nearly 50 Ukrainian drones attacked strategic infrastructure in the Rostov and Krasnodar regions, causing major fires and prompting local authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Ukrainian forces have launched a large-scale drone strike targeting infrastructure in southern Russia. The attacks caused fires in the port city of Taganrog and an oil depot in Armavir, marking a new escalation in long-range combat operations deep within enemy territory.
Damage in the port city of Taganrog
Rostov region governor Yuri Slyusar confirmed on Telegram that explosions caused by UAVs had led to fires on an oil tanker and in the Taganrog port area. The city, with a population of approximately 240,000, faced a critical situation as the fires broke out; however, no oil spills were reported after the blaze was extinguished.
According to local authorities, the attack in Taganrog left at least two people injured. Taganrog Mayor Svetlana Kambulova announced that a state of emergency was officially declared on May 27th and will be extended to facilitate recovery efforts.
Raid on oil depot in Krasnodar region.
At the same time, in the neighboring Krasnodar region, the city of Armavir also came under attack. Local authorities reported a fire broke out at an oil storage facility located in the city's industrial zone. Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control, and no casualties were reported in the area.
Slyusar added that Russian air defenses shot down nearly 50 UAVs in the Rostov region during the attack. Despite the large number of attack vehicles, only minor material damage was recorded in areas outside the city center of Taganrog.
Context and reactions from various parties
The attack occurred amidst warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding intelligence data indicating Moscow was preparing for a new large-scale offensive. Zelensky asserted that Ukrainian security and air defense forces were on 24/7 combat readiness to counter airborne threats.
Earlier, Russia had also issued warnings about carrying out systematic attacks on targets in Kyiv. Moscow claimed this was in retaliation for the drone attack on a dormitory in the Lugansk region last week, which killed 21 people. However, Ukraine has denied all accusations related to the Lugansk incident.