Ukrainian drones strike key Russian energy sites, disrupt flights

"The gas processing plant in Astrakhan was attacked. It is one of Russia's key energy facilities, involved in processing gas condensate and producing gasoline, diesel fuel, and other fuels," Kovalenko wrote on Telegram.

According to the head of the Ukrainian CPD, the plant is of significant importance to the Russian military-industrial complex, as the defense industry heavily depends on the fuel and energy sector.

According to Reuters, Ukrainian drones disrupted flights at several airports in Russia. The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) suspended flights at airports in Astrakhan, Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Vladikavkaz, Grozny, and Makhachkala.

Similar restrictions were implemented at the airport in Volgograd, where an explosion occurred at an oil refinery, and power outages were reported.

In Kovalenko's assessment, the attacks on Russian refineries aim to halt the production of fuel that supplies the Russian armed forces. "It is crucial for the refinery in Volgograd to stop producing gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, and jet fuel, which are supplied to the Russian army," the head of the CPD noted.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 70 Ukrainian drones overnight: 27 in the airspace over the Rostov region, 25 over the Volgograd region, seven over the Astrakhan region, five over the Voronezh region, four over the Belgorod region, and two over the Kursk region.

Ukrainian expert Valeriy Romanenko noted on January 30 in a conversation with PAP that the Russian budget derives revenue mainly from the export of oil and petroleum products, which is why, in recent months, Ukrainian drones have been intensively attacking Russian petrochemical enterprises.

According to Romanenko, Ukrainian operations on Russian territory are becoming increasingly effective.