Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Three Ukrainian drones struck an electricity substation in the northern Russian region of Vologda overnight, according to regional governor Georgy Filimonov on Saturday.
Damage to the substation is being evaluated. However, the electrical supply in the region, located north of Moscow and about 1,900 km from Ukraine, is operating without interruption, Filimonov stated in a post on Telegram.
Two people were also injured when a Ukrainian drone hit a residential building in the Russian city of Saratov, local governor Roman Busargin said in a statement on Telegram.
Saratov is an industrial city on the Volga River, located 625 km from the Ukrainian border. It has been hit by Ukrainian drones multiple times since Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
In contrast, the less populated Vologda region has not frequently faced Ukrainian strikes. On Saturday, Russia’s Defence Ministry stated that it had shot down 83 drones overnight, mostly over regions near Ukraine.
Why is Ukraine targeting Russian energy infrastructure?
Ukraine is ramping up its efforts against Russian oil and gas infrastructure. Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries target Moscow’s oil export revenue. This revenue is essential for continuing its full-scale invasion.
For instance, a few weeks ago, Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery in Russia’s Saratov Oblast overnight on Oct. 16. This has been confirmed by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO).
What damage did the Ukrainian strikes cause to Russia’s Saratov refinery?
“The Saratov Refinery is one of the oldest Russian oil refining enterprises, formerly known as the Cracking Plant, and is part of the Rosneft oil company,”
the SSO said in a post on social media.
“The volume of oil processing as of 2020 is 7.2 million tons, and in 2023 it is 4.8 million tons. Recall that the SSO struck this facility exactly a month ago, on Sept. 16, 2025.”
The Saratov oil refinery has faced drone attacks in the past. The General Staff confirmed that Ukraine struck the facility on Sept. 20.
The Saratov refinery makes over 20 types of petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, and bitumen. In 2023, the facility processed 4.8 million metric tons. According to Ukraine’s General Staff, it supports the Russian military.
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