When Ukraine hit an oil refinery hundreds of miles inside Russia this week, Moscow was incensed.
The drone strike on the Taneco refinery in Nizhnekamsk was just the latest sign of Kyiv’s ability to shatter Vladimir Putin’s illusion of safety and bring home the reality of his war to ordinary Russians. Local officials said 13 people, including a child, had been killed, making it one of the deadliest attacks on a Russian city since 2022.
Nizhnekamsk lies in the Republic of Tatarstan, a top oil producer and refining hub that helps fund Putin’s war machine, and is therefore a major target for Kyiv’s long-range drones.
Shorts
Barely an hour’s drive north of the city lies a sprawling, high-security zone that is vital for another reason: its role in the production of suicide drones.
