Drone strikes targeted military and transport infrastructure across several locations in Russia’s Rostov region. According to the Russian outlet Astra, overnight, drones attacked railway infrastructure near military units in the area.
Eyewitnesses reported explosions in Novocherkassk and surrounding settlements. An impact was recorded near the railway in the village of Persianivskyi, Oktyabrsky District.
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Astra’s open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysis found that military unit No. 22179 is located approximately 1.6 kilometers (about 1 mile) from the explosion site, and maintenance unit No. 3658 was previously located about 800 meters (2,625 feet) away. It is unclear whether the latter is still operating there.
The strike on Likhaya station caused significant delays to rail traffic. Passengers in local Telegram channels confirmed the temporary suspension of services.
Regional governor Yuriy Slyusar claimed that “more than 40 drones were allegedly shot down and destroyed” while acknowledging that damage to the railway’s contact network had been recorded.
Ukraine has not commented on its involvement.
Other strikes
Overnight reports also indicated that the Samara oil pumping station (LPDS) – which supplies oil to Novorossiysk, among other destinations – was attacked.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine made another attempt to attack an industrial enterprise in the Samara region. According to preliminary data, there are no dead or injured,” Samara region governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev wrote.
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The governor added that emergency services are working at the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) crash sites and urged residents not to approach any wreckage they may find.
The previous day’s attack
Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces carried out a coordinated overnight strike on April 20 targeting key Russian military and energy infrastructure – including an oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region and facilities in occupied Crimea.
The military confirmed that the Tuapse oil refinery – one of Russia’s key Black Sea export hubs – was struck again, with hits on a storage tank area triggering a fire. A separate strike targeted the Hvardiiska oil depot in occupied Crimea. Kyiv said the attacks are aimed at reducing Russia’s logistical capacity.
The Tuapse refinery, which is integrated with a Black Sea export terminal, was hit for the second time in less than a week. A previous fire at the site burned for several days and required more than 150 emergency personnel to extinguish. Astra reported another large fire in the storage tank area following the latest strike.
Krasnodar governor Veniamin Kondratyev said the attack caused a fire at the seaport and damage across the city from falling debris, with a gas pipeline also affected.
The refinery processes up to 12 million tons of crude oil annually and is among Russia’s top ten.
The campaign
In recent months, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly targeted major export hubs, including the Baltic ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk, as well as the Novorossiysk oil terminal. In March alone, Russia is estimated to have lost nearly $1 billion within a week following strikes on Baltic infrastructure.
Kyiv says such attacks are a response to continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and are designed to reduce Moscow’s oil revenues – a key source of war funding.
Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, said the strikes are strengthening Ukraine’s position in ongoing negotiations, though some allies have urged restraint amid concerns over rising global energy prices.
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