More than 40 firefighters have been injured, with 18 of them hospitalised, after a massive blaze at a Russian oil depot ignited by debris from a downed drone – with dramatic online clips illustrating the intensity of the flames.
Meanwhile, civilians with small children in their arms and lugging heavy suitcases fled from Ukraine’s eastern city of Pokrovsk, where the Russian army was bearing down fast despite a lightning Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.
Several clips circulating on social media showed the depot, near Rostov, burning more than a day after the fire first erupted, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Posting on X, former Ukrainian internal affairs ministerial advisor Anton Gerashchenko, shared one such piece of footage, commenting: “For f***’s sake, run away!” – Russian local media published a video shot by firefighters of an oil depot burning in Rostov region.
“Due to the high danger, extinguishing was suspended as it is impossible to get close to the fire source.”
He added: “The fire continues for the second day.
“According to the AFU General Staff, oil and petroleum products supplied to the Russian army were stored there.”
During the clip, firefighters can heard saying: “There will be casualties.” One adds: “I think it’s reached the gasoline.”
Across the border, local authorities said Russian forces were advancing so quickly that families were under orders to leave Pokrovsk and other nearby towns and villages starting today. Around 53,000 people still live in the city, officials said, and some of them decided to get out immediately.
People of all ages boarded trains and buses with the belongings they could carry. Some wept as they waited to depart. Soldiers helped the elderly with their bags, and volunteers helped people with disabilities. Rail workers wore bulletproof vests.
Natalya Ivaniuk said the noise of explosions from Russian bombardments filled the air while she and her daughters, ages 7 and 9, fled their home in the nearby village of Myrnohrad, which is less than 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the front line.
She explained: “It was terrifyingly scary. We barely got out.”
Pokrovsk is one of Ukraine’s main defensive strongholds and an important logistics hub in the Donetsk region. Its capture would compromise Ukraine’s defensive abilities and supply routes and would bring Russia closer to its stated aim of capturing the whole of the Donetsk region.
One of Kyiv’s attempts to ease the pressure on its eastern front was the unexpected August 6 incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, which among other goals aimed to unnerve the Kremlin and compel it to split its military resources.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the aim is to try and create a buffer zone which might prevent further attacks by Moscow across the border, especially with long-range artillery, missiles and glide bombs.
In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Zelensky said Monday evening that Ukraine currently controlled about 480 square miles and 92 settlements inside the Kursk region.
He said: “The Russian border area opposite our Sumy region has been mostly cleared of Russian military presence.
“Now, our warriors’ real success speaks for itself. Our defensive actions across the border, as well as Putin’s inability to defend his territory, are telling.
“Our proactive defence is the most effective counter to Russian terror, causing significant difficulties for the aggressor.”
A pregnant woman was killed and 10 others were wounded by Ukrainian shelling in the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, the region’s Moscow-installed head Denis Pushilin claimed on social media. Two children were among the injured, he said.
Russia’s offensive across the Donetsk region after the capture of Avdiivka has cost it heavily in troops and armour.
However, the onslaught has gradually paid dividends as Ukrainian defenders have no choice but to pull back from positions blown to pieces by Russian artillery, missiles and bombs.
