Fire at Russian oil depot sparked by Ukrainian drone strike extinguished after five days, governor says

The fire that broke out at an oil depot in Engels, Russia, on January 8, following an attack by Ukrainian drones, has been extinguished, according to Roman Busargin, the governor of the Saratov region.

Busargin noted that “work is ongoing” at the site and thanked emergency service workers and rescuers who have been on duty around the clock. He did not provide additional details about the situation at the depot.

On the morning of January 12, Busargin reported that a “controlled burn-off of fuel” was still underway.

Ukrainian drones attacked Saratov and Engels early on January 8. Busargin said debris had struck an industrial facility in Engels, though he did not specify which one. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces claimed the strike targeted a fuel storage depot at the Kristall complex, which supplies fuel to the Engels-2 military air base.

Two emergency workers were killed while battling the blaze. A state of emergency has been declared in Engels. Residents reported heavy smog in the area, but Rosprirodnadzor, Russia’s natural resources regulatory agency, said air pollution levels remained within acceptable limits.