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Ukraine claims it has struck a major Russian oil terminal and explosives factory

Ukraine's military announced on Monday that it had hit one of Russia's major factories that produce explosives used in various types of ammunition for the Russian army, as well as a terminal for oil fueling Moscow's warfare effort.

As diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the war, which has lasted for more than three-and-a-half years, have failed, Ukraine's military forces have intensified their long-ranged attacks against strategic Russian targets. This includes oil facilities.

Ukraine's General Staff issued a statement in which it said that "numerous explosive explosions" had been reported following the strike on the Y. M. Sverdlov bomb factory in western Russia. A fire also broke out after the attack on an oil depot in Feodosia, eastern Crimea.

Gleb Nikitine, the regional governor, said that air defence forces had defeated an attack overnight by 20 drones near Dzerzhinsk where the factory was located. He claimed that one person was hurt by falling debris.

Nikitin stated that there were some residential fire damages but "no damage has been caused to industrial installations".

Some residents in a VK chat room reported hearing loud blasts at night.

According to a Ukrainian intelligence officer and the Council of the European Union (which sanctioned the firm in 2023 due to its role in the Ukraine War), Sverdlov Plant was the only significant Russian manufacturer of the high explosives RDX & HMX.

Ukraine has targeted Dzerzhinsk before, which is located about 360 km east from Moscow.

In addition, the Ukrainian General Staff stated that Ukrainian forces also attacked an ammunition depot located in Crimea. (Reporting and writing by Yuliia Dyesa; editing by Gareth Jones, Huge Lawson and Dan Peleschuk)

(source: Reuters)