At least 13 people were killed and dozens of others injured in an overnight Ukrainian drone attack in the republic of Tatarstan, regional officials said Monday morning, with media reports suggesting that a petrochemical plant was struck.
Radmir Belyayev, the mayor of the industrial city of Nizhnekamsk, said drones targeted both civilian and industrial sites during the attack. Authorities later said a hostel was hit, killing nine people.
Besides the more than a dozen fatalities, which included one child, regional authorities said more than 70 people sought medical attention. Among those killed were citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Unverified reports said the Nizhnekamskneftekhim petrochemical plant, which produces synthetic rubber and plastics, was hit during the overnight attack.
Tatarstan declared a period of mourning after the deadly strikes on Nizhnekamsk. The city was previously attacked in June, when Ukrainian drones targeted Tatneft's Taneco oil refinery.
Ukraine later on Monday claimed it struck the Taneco refinery in its attack on Nizhnekamsk.
Russia's Defense Ministry said it intercepted 456 Ukrainian drones in Russia and annexed Crimea between Sunday night and Monday morning.
Ukraine began ramping up its attacks against Russian oil refineries and supply lines this spring in a bid to deprive the Kremlin of windfalls from surging oil prices. Drone strikes have halted or scaled back production at facilities that account for large shares of Russia's gasoline output.
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