Drone Attack Sparks Blaze at Key Fuel Facility Inside Russian Russian City of Penza

Strike drones hit an oil storage facility in the Russian city of Penza, triggering a large fire, according to the OSINT channel Exilenova+, which published videos filmed by local residents on January 23.

The regional governor, Oleg Melnychenko, also confirmed that a fire broke out at the site following the strike.

Preliminary reports indicate that the drones hit the Penzanefteprodukt oil depot, which is located within the city limits.

Multiple explosions were heard in Penza at around 4:00 a.m. local time. Shortly afterward, residents reported seeing thick black smoke and flames rising from one district of the city. Photos and videos shared online show an intense fire at the facility.

An aerial threat alert was issued across the Penza region at approximately 1:40 a.m. Temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures were also imposed at Penza Airport as a precaution.

Dozens of firefighters and more than ten units of specialized equipment were deployed to extinguish the blaze at the oil depot, local authorities said.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation claimed later in the morning that air defenses intercepted 12 drones overnight, including one allegedly over the Penza region.

Earlier, a drone strike hit oil infrastructure at Russia’s Black Sea port of Taman, triggering a large fire at a key energy export hub.

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