MOSCOW, Feb 19 : Russian officials said Thursday that their forces destroyed 113 Ukrainian drones overnight, including several targeting an oil refinery in Velikiye Luki, which ignited a fire in a storage tank. No injuries were reported among refinery staff or nearby civilians, according to regional governor Mikhail Vedernikov.
The strikes come amid retaliatory drone operations by Ukraine against Russian oil refineries and port infrastructure, following four years of near-daily Russian bombardments across Ukraine. Russian authorities emphasized their air defenses successfully intercepted the majority of incoming drones.
The drone attacks occurred shortly after two days of US-mediated talks in Geneva concluded on Wednesday. Both sides described discussions as “difficult” and no immediate breakthrough was announced. Diplomats had aimed to explore possible settlements to the ongoing conflict, but differences remain deep.
Russian officials said the destroyed drones had targeted energy infrastructure, underscoring the ongoing strategic focus on critical assets by both parties. Ukraine has increasingly relied on unmanned aerial vehicles to strike Russian facilities as part of its retaliatory campaign, while Moscow continues to defend key sites and maintain pressure across contested regions.
Observers note that these drone operations highlight the intensifying technological dimension of the conflict, with both sides employing aerial reconnaissance and precision attacks to weaken the opponent’s operational capacity. Despite repeated strikes, energy production and civilian services have largely continued in targeted areas.
The overnight events signal that the conflict remains volatile, with both nations prepared to carry out rapid and coordinated operations while diplomatic efforts continue in parallel. Analysts say the lack of progress in Geneva indicates the potential for ongoing escalation unless further negotiation frameworks emerge.
