Kyiv Petrol Stations: Russian forces have commenced targeted strikes on petrol stations in Kyiv using jet-powered drones, marking a significant escalation in their bombardment of Ukraine capital. Over two days, strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals and injuries to twelve others, as confirmed by Kyiv mayor, Vitali Klitschko. The attacks occurred during morning rush hour, following an initial drone strike on a petrol station the previous day, highlighting a new phase of intensity in the conflict.
Kyiv Petrol Stations In addition to the casualties in Kyiv, Russian shelling across other parts of Ukraine, specifically in the southeastern regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia, claimed the lives of two more individuals, with three killed in Russian drone strikes on areas including Tula and Kursk within Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has condemned these actions, characterizing them as increasingly “terrorist in nature.” The ongoing hostilities reflect a vicious cycle of retaliatory actions between the two sides, focusing particularly on the destruction of fuel and energy infrastructure as the conflict continues to reach dire levels amid a stalemate on the front lines.
Russian Strikes on Kyiv Petrol Stations and Ukrainian Attacks in Russia Escalate War
Escalation of Strikes Between Russia and Ukraine
On September 11, Reuters reported a significant increase in military hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, marked by targeted strikes involving drones. Russia launched attacks on two petrol stations in Kyiv, resulting in the deaths of two civilians. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy characterized these attacks as increasingly resembling terrorism. Additionally, Russian aggression was noted in the Dnipropetrovsk region and Kharkiv, where further strikes led to the loss of two more lives. Kyiv Petrol Stations
Kyiv Petrol Stations In retaliation, Ukraine executed drone strikes that claimed the lives of two individuals in Russia Tula region, along with another fatality in the Kursk region on Friday, indicating a violent escalation on both sides of the ongoing conflict.As the war in Ukraine extends beyond four and a half years, front-line combat has largely stalled. In response, both Moscow and Kyiv have intensified their attacks on logistics and economic targets. This shift aims to undermine the opposing side war efforts, highlighting a strategic change in their military approaches amid protracted conflict.
Jet-Powered Drone Attacks on Kyiv
Kyiv Petrol Stations Russia has been conducting continuous jet-powered drone attacks on Kyiv for the past two weeks, resulting in civilian casualties and significant disruptions to daily life in the capital. These assaults, involving faster drones known as ‘shaheds,’ were temporarily halted during the visit of U.S. peace negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner but quickly resumed afterward. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy characterized this escalation as increasingly akin to terrorism. Both Russia and Ukraine maintain that they are not intentionally targeting civilians in the ongoing conflict, which began with Russia full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Kyiv Petrol Stations On Friday, a significant explosion occurred at a Ukrnafta petrol station in the Pochaina neighborhood of northern Kyiv, injuring three individuals: the manager of a nearby car wash, his wife, and a passing car driver.(Kyiv Petrol Stations) The explosion left a vehicle stranded on the roadside with shattered windows and bloodied seats, illustrating the severity of the attack. Witnesses reported hearing two explosions, which local authorities attributed to a double-tap attack carried out by Russia. Anastasiia Demchenko, a 30-year-old employee of a nearby delivery company, described the chaotic conditions of the war as akin to a rollercoaster, emphasizing the precariousness of daily life in the capital.
Kyiv Petrol Stations The series of strikes aimed specifically at Ukrnafta petrol stations, a state-run company involved in oil and natural gas extraction, has raised concerns about the targeting of civilian infrastructure. Sergiy Fedorenko, acting head of Naftogaz, remarked that such attacks lack any military justification and are classified as acts of terror against innocent civilians. Prior to the assaults, a list circulating on Telegram hinted that 18 petrol stations in Kyiv were identified as potential targets for Russian drone strikes, with three already confirmed as hit. Kyiv Petrol Stations
At another station targeted in the Desnianskyi district, one of Kyiv most densely populated areas, a nearby car wash manager reported that the timely activation of air-raid sirens allowed station workers to take refuge in a nearby shelter, mitigating potential casualties. The recent uptick in assaults on Ukrainian petrol stations, particularly the first in the capital, reflects a broader strategy of attacking essential infrastructure amidst the ongoing conflict, amidst intensified Russian operations against such facilities across eastern and southern Ukraine. Kyiv Petrol Stations
Escalating Strikes and Counterattacks
Ukrainian Attacks on Russian Economic Targets
Ukraine has been actively targeting significant economic infrastructure in Russia, including major online retailers and oil refineries located deep within Russian territory. Among the latest reported strikes by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are attacks on an unspecified enterprise and an oil facility in the Saratov and Volgograd regions. Additionally, he indicated that Ukrainian forces had conducted strikes on other unidentified targets in various regions as well as in the Black Sea area. This pattern of targeting aims to disrupt Russian economic and logistical operations in the regions occupied by Russian forces.
Casualties and Damage in Russia
In a series of recent Ukrainian drone attacks, Governor Dmitry Milyayev of Tula region reported two fatalities and three injuries. A 37-year-old man was killed in the Kursk region due to a drone strike. Additionally, the Russian e-commerce company Ozon experienced a fire at its logistics hub in Saratov caused by another drone. Over twenty warehouses belonging to Ozon and rival retailer Wildberries have been targeted in a campaign aimed at crippling the economic infrastructure that supports Russia military efforts in Ukraine.
Ukrainian military sources confirmed that an oil refinery in Saratov was among the facilities struck. Meanwhile, a missile attack in Volgograd resulted in injuries to two individuals and damage to two residential buildings, alongside an unspecified industrial facility. This surge of drone and missile strikes highlights the increasing focus on economic targets within Russia as part of the ongoing conflict. (Reporting by Gleb Garanich in Kyiv, Jekaterīna Golubkova in Tokyo, Anna Pruchnicka in Gdansk; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Michael Perry, Timothy Heritage, and Ron Popeski)
Summary
- Russia resumed Kyiv strikes after visit by US envoys
- Two killed in attacks on petrol stations, Kyiv mayor says
- Three killed in Ukrainian attacks in Russia, officials say