Oil Storage Explosion Near Russia Border... Possibility of Ukrainian Counterattack Raised

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[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Two large oil storage facilities exploded in Bryansk, located near the Russia-Ukraine border, prompting Russian authorities to investigate the cause of the fire. Reports that a railway transporting Russian military equipment also exploded have raised the possibility that this was not a simple fire but a counterattack by Ukrainian forces.

According to TASS news agency on the 25th (local time), the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that a fire broke out around 2 a.m. at two oil storage facilities in Bryansk city, located 154 km northeast of the Ukrainian border. The Ministry stated, "The oil storage facilities are owned by the pipeline company Transneft," adding, "There were no casualties from the fire, and the cause of the fire is under investigation."

The Russian Ministry of Energy also issued a statement saying, "There will be no disruption to the supply of diesel and gasoline in the Bryansk region," and "Fuel reserves are sufficient." They further explained, "The scale of the fire is being assessed." It is known that approximately 15,000 tons of oil were stored in the two oil storage facilities, and explosions occurred within intervals of less than 15 minutes. There were also reports that a railway transporting weapons to Russian troops in the nearby area was destroyed.

Accordingly, claims have been raised that the explosions were not due to a simple fire but were caused by a counterattack from Ukrainian forces. According to the Russian local media Baza, local investigators have suggested the possibility that the fire was caused by an attack using combat drones rather than occurring accidentally.

Experts also consider missile or drone attacks highly likely. Rob Lee, a military expert at King's College London, told The Times, "It appears to be an airstrike or missile attack," explaining, "If deployed near the Ukraine-Russia border, it is highly likely to be Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles, which can reach both targets."

Previously, on the 1st, Ukrainian forces attacked and blew up an oil storage facility in Belgorod Oblast, a border region in western Russia. At that time, Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Belgorod Oblast, stated, "Two Ukrainian helicopters violated Russian airspace at low altitude and carried out an airstrike."

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