Overnight, Ukraine carried out coordinated drone strikes targeting Russian energy infrastructure across multiple regions.
The most significant strike occurred in Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, where an oil tanker, fuel tanks, and an administrative building caught fire after being hit by a drone. Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency cited Rostov Governor Yury Slyusar confirming the incident on the Max app early on May 30.
Slyusar said preliminary information indicated no casualties, but verification was ongoing. However, the strike also injured two civilians when a drone struck a private home in Taganrog. “Last night, civilians were again injured by an air strike on Taganrog. According to initial information, two people were injured when a drone hit a private home. Medics are providing emergency care and doing everything necessary,” he said.
Russia’s air defense systems shot down multiple drones overnight across four districts: Taganrog, Chertkovsky, Matveyevo-Kurgansky, and Neklinovsky, according to RIA Novosti. Meanwhile, in the village of Grekovo-Timofeyevka, an in-house gas pipeline caught fire after a drone caused damage; residents were evacuated, with no casualties. In the village of Botsmanovo (Neklinovsky district), windows of two homes were shattered but no one was injured.
Strikes also targeted an oil facility in Armavir (Krasnodar region) and large fuel tanks caught fire near Yaroslavl. Russia’s Volgograd oil refinery was forced to halt operations due to drone attacks.
On the Ukrainian side, the Russian military launched 90 drones and two Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight. In Zaporizhzhia, the strikes damaged energy infrastructure, leaving around 13,000 residents without power. Sumy Oblast also reported damage to infrastructure, homes, and vehicles, according to local Ukrainian media.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on May 29 that Russia was organizing a new large-scale attack on Ukraine. “We have intelligence indicating Russia is preparing a new massive offensive. Our forces are responding quickly and are ready,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. He urged Ukrainians to protect themselves and called on allies to accelerate deliveries of Patriot air defense systems.
Earlier, Russia warned foreigners to leave Kyiv, announcing a series of systematic strikes on defense infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital. Tensions escalated in late May when a Russian drone struck an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people.
