Ukrainian drone attack causes fire in southern Russian fuel terminal

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - A Ukrainian drone attack in southern Russia caused a large fire at an oil terminal in the port of Azov, according to local authorities.

The attack, involving four Ukrainian aircraft, resulted in a blaze affecting several fuel tanks with a total capacity of 4,000 cubic meters (141,260 cubic feet), with the fire spread over an area of 3,200 square meters (34,445 square feet), Rostov's regional Governor Vasily Golubev said on Telegram.

Golubev added that around 200 people and nearly 500 firefighting vehicles were involved in efforts to douse the blaze and its aftermath.

Meanwhile, Russia criticized recent Ukrainian legislation to introduce military training for school and university students in the country.

The bill, signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, aims to prepare citizens for national resistance, according to an explanatory note.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the bill's "apparent intention" is to establish reserves for the Ukrainian military.

She said that instead of considering peace talks and moving in that direction, Kyiv has chosen the path of war.