Energy facilities across Russia’s Oryol, Vladimir, and Yaroslavl regions were reportedly attacked overnight on Oct. 31, striking key power and oil infrastructure, reports The Kyiv Independent. The Oryol Thermal Power Plant, Vladimir electrical substation, and Novo-Yaroslavsky oil refinery—all major regional energy hubs—sustained damage amid explosions and blackouts captured on video. Local governors confirmed hits on infrastructure but claimed power was mostly restored, and no casualties occurred. The incidents follow Russia’s mass missile and drone assaults on Ukraine’s energy grid the previous day, prompting speculation that the strikes may be part of escalating cross-border retaliation between the two countries. They write:
Energy facilities in Russia’s Oryol, Vladimir, and Yaroslavl oblasts were attacked overnight on Oct. 31, according to Russian officials and Telegram channels.
The attacks reportedly targeted the Oryol thermal power plant (TPP), the region’s largest generating source of electricity and heat; the Vladimir electrical substation, a critical Russian energy hub; and the Novo-Yaroslavsky oil refinery, the largest refinery in northern Russia.
Residents of the city of Oryol reported explosions during the night, the Russian opposition news channel Astra reported. Surveillance footage captured the attack on the plant, showing a large blast. […]
Prior to the attack, Klychkov had warned of a missile threat in the region. Local residents reported that the attack did not sound like drones, according to Astra.
Footage analyzed by Astra showed two strikes on the Oryol plant, resulting in blackouts over the city. […]
In Yaroslavl, explosions were reported near the Novo-Yaroslavsky oil refinery. The refinery is the fifth-largest in Russia, with an annual processing capacity of 15 million tons of crude oil.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims at the time of publication.
The alleged strikes come a day after Russian forces launched a mass missile and drone attack against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight on Oct. 30. According to DTEK, the largest private energy company in Ukraine, Russia struck multiple thermal power plants across the country.
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