An oil depot in the western Russian city of Belgorod, near the Ukrainian border, was destroyed in an airstrike Russia has attributed to Ukraine.
At least two attack helicopters were caught on video firing missiles at the depot before it exploded. The strike comes after more than a month after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the Russian gas depot was hit in the strike, in comments to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency and other media outlets. Peskov attributed the attack to Ukraine, and said, “Clearly, it’s not what could create conditions for further talks.”
More videos taken in the Belgorod area on Thursday night showed the missiles being fired at the fuel depot.
Witnesses also captured footage of the suspected Ukrainian Hind attack helicopters leaving the area after the strike, flying away fast and low as the light of the fire could be seen in the distance.
Belgorod is situated just 20 miles from the Russian-Ukrainian border. According to the New York Times, the Friday attack was the first time Russia has reported a Ukrainian airstrike on its side of the border since the war began. The Ukrainian side has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
The fire at the Belgorod fuel depot continued to burn for hours on Friday.
TASS reported around 1,200 people living in the vicinity of the fuel depot were evacuated.
Two people were injured in the attack, according to Belgorod Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
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