Ukraine has struck an oil depot in Yartsevo district in Russia’s Somelensk region, 10 km north of Ukraine, the General Staff of Ukrainian Armed forces reported on December 31.

"Powerful explosions fire have been recorded at the facility, with heavy smoke observed. According to available information, fuel storage tanks have caught fire," the General Staff stated in a Facebook post.

The confirmation follows reports from regional authorities describing the damage caused by a Ukrainian drone strike overnight. Smolensk region Governor Vasily Anokhin said Russian air defense systems repelled an attack by Ukrainian drones in Yartsevo district. "The wreckage of one of the unmanned aerial vehicles fell on the territory of an oil depot. As a result, a fuel spill occurred and a fire started in the fuel and lubricants," Anokhin said on Tuesday. He added that emergency services were brought to the area, adding that there was no threat to residential buildings. The Russian Defence Ministry said 68 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight, with 10 of them destroyed over Smolensk region.

The attack on Smolensk oil depot is the latest in Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia’s oil infrastructure. On December 22, Ukraine struck an oil depot in Russia’s western Oryol region, causing large explosions in the area. A similar attack was launched on Oryol oil depot on December 14. Another oil-loading pipeline was hit and set on fire in Russia’s Bryansk region on December 11.

Over the past year, Ukraine has stepped attacks on Russia’s oil industry in an attempt to undermine Moscow's ability to support its war efforts and fuel its military operations.