In a series of overnight operations, Ukrainian drones targeted key fuel and energy facilities within Russia, igniting fires and causing significant disruptions to air travel, as reported by Russian officials on Monday.

Attacks on Energy Infrastructure

In the Volgograd region, Governor Andrei Bocharov announced that Russian air defense units successfully “repelled a massive attack” by Ukrainian drones.

Despite these efforts, debris from intercepted drones caused fires at an oil refinery.

While the specific facility was not named, reports from the Russian Telegram channel Baza, known for its connections to security services, indicated explosions near a Lukoil refinery, Russia’s second-largest oil producer.

In a separate incident in the Astrakhan region, Governor Igor Babushkin confirmed a drone strike that resulted in a fire.

Although details were sparse, Baza suggested that a gas processing plant in the area was among the targets.

Impact on Air Travel

The Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia, Rosaviatsia, temporarily suspended flights at six airports—Astrakhan, Volgograd, Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, Saratov, and Ulyanovsk—as a precautionary measure.

Flight operations resumed at most of the affected airports later in the day.

Defense Ministry’s Response

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defense units intercepted and destroyed 70 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 25 over Volgograd, 27 over Rostov, and seven over Astrakhan.

These figures underscore the scale of the drone offensive and the challenges faced by Russian air defenses.

U.S. Involvement in Peace Efforts

In a related development, U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to end the Russia-Ukraine war within 100 days of taking office.

Retired U.S. General Keith Kellogg, serving as Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, expressed optimism about securing a peace deal within this timeframe.

President Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, revealed that his administration has already engaged in “very serious” discussions with Russia regarding conflict resolution.

While specific details were not disclosed, he hinted at ongoing talks and a potential agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We will be speaking, and I think we will perhaps do something significant,” Trump remarked. However, he remained vague about whether he had personally communicated with Putin, neither confirming nor denying direct contact.

Ukrainian Perspective

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed concerns about being excluded from U.S.-Russia discussions concerning the war.

In an interview with a media, Zelensky emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s involvement in any negotiations, stating that excluding Ukraine is “very dangerous.”

He urged for more direct discussions between Kyiv and Washington and highlighted the necessity of including Ukraine and possibly the European Union in negotiations to prevent Russia from controlling the situation.

These developments underscore the escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the international efforts underway to seek a resolution.

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