In brief
At least 13 people were killed when Ukrainian drones struck the city of Nizhnekamsk in Russia's Tatarstan region, a major oil refiner and petrochemical centre. One child died among the victims and 39 others were injured, making it one of Russia's deadliest single attacks since its full‑scale war began. Officials report that roughly 450 drones were intercepted overnight, while Russia confirmed that both industrial sites and residential areas were targeted. The head of Tatarstan and the mayor of Nizhnekamsk issued condolences, and a period of mourning has been declared.
At least 13 people have been killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on the Russian republic of Tatarstan, officials have said.
The attack on the city of Nizhnekamsk, more than 1,100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, hit a major oil refinery and a large petrochemical complex. One child was killed and 39 people were injured.
The strike reportedly lasted for several hours overnight, with social media posts showing large plumes of smoke and flames, while air raid sirens echoed in the background.
Although no official confirmation has yet identified the exact target, Russian authorities confirmed that both industrial facilities and residential areas were hit. The Investigative Committee noted that several civilians were present and not involved in any military operations.
The head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, confirmed the strike and expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased. Mayor Radmir Belayev said, "This is a tremendous pain for all of us."
A period of mourning has been declared across Tatarstan.
Moscow reported that more than 450 Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defences overnight.
The attack demonstrates Kyiv's increasing use of long‑range strikes, often targeting warehouses or energy infrastructure, with civilian casualties mounting. Russia continues to launch large‑scale aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities and residential centres. Last week, a combined drone and missile strike on Kyiv killed 21 people, while an artillery attack in Kharkiv killed five people near the front line.
