Ukraine Drone Attacks Hit Taganrog Oil Facilities, Injure Two Civilians

Ukraine launched coordinated drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure across multiple regions overnight, with the most significant strike hitting Taganrog in Rostov Oblast where a major port fire broke out after drones hit a tanker, fuel tank and administrative building, according to Russian state media reported by Al Jazeera.

“The International Atomic Energy Agency says it has been informed by the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine that a drone has struck a turbine building at the site, causing a hole in its wall”

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Rostov Governor Yury Slyusar confirmed the Taganrog attack on Max, a Russian state-backed messaging app, writing, “A tanker, a fuel tank, and an administrative building caught fire at the port of Taganrog as a result of a drone attack,” and he added that preliminary information showed “there are no casualties.”

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The Washington Post reported that Ukrainian drone strikes caused fires at more Russian oil facilities overnight into Saturday, citing Russian officials, and it described the damage as affecting an oil depot and tanker in the port of Taganrog.

The Washington Post also said authorities in the neighboring Krasnodar region reported a fire breaking out at an oil depot in Armavir for the same reason, as falling drone debris sparked the blaze.

Al Jazeera further reported that Russian air defences destroyed multiple drones overnight across four districts, including Taganrog, Chertkovsky, Matveyevo-Kurgansky, and Neklinovsky, and it said the attack also injured two civilians when a drone struck a private home in Taganrog.

A drone strike near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant triggered competing claims from Russia and Ukraine, with the International Atomic Energy Agency saying it had been informed by the plant that a drone struck a turbine building at the site and caused a hole in its wall.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi expressed concern, saying, “Attacking nuclear sites is like playing with fire,” and the agency said its team at the Russian-held power plant requested access to examine the affected turbine building first-hand.

Al Jazeera

Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom, as reported by AAP News, said a Ukrainian kamikaze combat drone struck the turbine hall building of Power Unit No. 6 and that the explosion “caused no damage to the primary equipment; however, it tore a hole in the turbine hall wall.”

Ukraine’s military denied the Russian claims as “yet another propaganda ploy,” and it said “Ukrainian servicemen act strictly within the international humanitarian law and are fully aware of the consequences of any actions targeting nuclear facilities.”

The Kyiv Independent reported that Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces denied Russia’s allegation that a Ukrainian drone struck power unit No. 6, stating, “The Ukrainian Defense Forces did not strike power unit No. 6 of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” while Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev alleged a hole appeared in the wall though no equipment was damaged.

Euronews reported that the IAEA said the safety of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is deteriorating after a drone struck near the plant, with Grossi confirming to TASS that on-site experts had been informed of the detonation and had immediately gone to the area.

“Russia says Ukrainian drone hit turbine hall at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant Rosatom accuses Ukraine of 'deliberate attack' on nuclear power plant, warns world 'one step closer' to serious nuclear incident Elena Teslova 30 May 2026•Update: 30 May 2026 MOSCOW A Ukrainian combat drone struck the turbine hall building at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, causing an explosion and damaging the structure, Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom said on Saturday”

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Grossi said, “Once again, we are witnessing an escalation of the nuclear safety and security perils facing the plant,” and he reiterated his call for “the greatest restraint on the part of all parties” and strict adherence to five concrete principles for protection of the plant.

Euronews also said the report confirmed there were no casualties nor any notable impact on the plant’s equipment, but that the road linking the two main entrances of Zaporizhzhia was visibly damaged, with the strike appearing very close to essential cooling-water basins and only 100 meters from the Dniprovska power line.

Separately, Midi Libre reported that a local ceasefire came into effect on Friday around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to allow the repair of an external power line, with Russian officials saying the agreement was brokered through the IAEA and that the repairs will last at least a week.

Midi Libre added that the plant is not currently generating electricity but depends on external power to cool its reactors and prevent a nuclear accident, and it said Russia and Ukraine regularly accuse each other of endangering the plant’s safety by carrying out attacks nearby.