Ukraine conducted a nighttime strike deep within Russian territory, igniting a fire at an oil depot in Engels, which supports an air base for Russian nuclear bombers, according to the Ukrainian military on Wednesday.

The governor of the Russian region reported that both Engels and Saratov, located on opposite banks of the Volga River, experienced a “mass drone attack,” resulting in a fire at an unspecified industrial site. He noted that there were no reports of casualties.

The Ukrainian military indicated that multiple explosions occurred at the “Kristal” oil depot, which supplies fuel to the “Engels-2” military airfield. The strike is said to pose significant logistical challenges for the Russian strategic aviation forces and greatly diminishes their capacity to target Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, as stated in a Telegram announcement.

Presidential adviser Oleksandr Kamyshin revealed that Ukraine utilized “long-range capabilities” for the attack, sharing this information on X with the hashtag #MadeInUkraine to emphasize that the weapons were domestically produced rather than supplied by Western nations.

In a notable escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine began using U.S. ATACMS ballistic missiles and British Storm Shadows against Russian targets last year, prompting Russia to respond with the deployment of a new hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik, aimed at Ukraine. The Kremlin has vowed to retaliate each time Ukraine employs long-range Western weaponry against Russian territory.

Russian news outlets reported that a fire broke out at an oil facility in Engels. Social media posts featured videos and images of a significant blaze, characterized by bright orange flames and thick smoke billowing into the night sky. Reuters confirmed the fire’s location within an industrial area of Engels using satellite imagery.

Roman Busargin, the regional governor, stated on Telegram that there are adequate forces and resources available to contain the fire.

In a statement, Russia’s defense ministry indicated that 11 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight in the Saratov region, with an additional 21 downed in other areas of Russia and over the Azov Sea. The ministry did not report any resulting damage.

Residents of Engels shared in a Telegram chat that they heard numerous explosions. Authorities urged the public to remain calm and advised against taking photos or videos of the drones. The Engels air base is situated approximately 730 km (450 miles) southeast of Moscow and is several hundred kilometers from the Ukrainian border. In December 2022, a drone incident at the base resulted in the deaths of three Russian air force personnel.