**Fire Erupts at Russian Oil Depot**
A fire broke out at an oil depot in the town of Uzlovaya in Russia’s Tula Oblast. The fire started after a Ukrainian drone attack on January 18.
Regional Governor Dmitry Milyaev said that one fuel storage tank caught fire at an enterprise in the region. Videos posted online show a large fire at an oil depot in the town.
Milyaev claimed there were no casualties from the attack. However, this cannot be verified as Russian officials often make claims without evidence.
**Recurring Drone Attacks**
This is not the first time Ukraine has targeted Russia’s energy infrastructure with drones. Earlier on January 18, Ukrainian drones attacked an oil depot in Kaluga Oblast, causing a large fire.
Tula Oblast, located south of Moscow, has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian drones as part of efforts to disrupt Russia’s military supply chain. On November 9, Ukraine struck the Aleksinsky chemical plant in the region, which produces gunpowder and ammunition for the Russian military.
**Ukraine Targets Fossil Fuel Infrastructure**
Ukraine has been targeting Russia’s fossil fuel infrastructure to undermine a key funding source for Russia’s war effort. Drone strikes on refineries have led to reductions or suspensions in operations.
In recent months, Ukraine has carried out large-scale drone attacks on Russian military and industrial facilities. Overnight on January 14, Ukraine launched its “most massive” strike, targeting chemical plants, refineries, and ammunition depots at the Engels airbase.
**Russia’s Oil Exports Decline**
Amid an uptick in drone attacks, Russia’s seaborne exports of petroleum products declined by 9.1% to 113.7 million metric tons in 2024, according to Reuters.
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