Ukrainian drones caused massive damage to a key Russian port, as Kyiv steps up its relentless bombardment of the Kremlin’s energy facilities. Volodymyr Zelensky’s army has targeted Russia’s fuel economy over the autumn with devastating results. The aim is to cripple Vladimir Putin’s war machine by disrupting both fuel supplies to the Kremlin’s army, and exports of its energy products.

The Kremlin relies heavily on oil and gas exports to fund its grinding and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Over the past few months, Ukraine has hit more than 50 oil depots, causing mayhem to the Russian economy. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed its drones targeted and caused severe damage to Temryuk Seaport in Krasnodar Krai in southern Russia.

The port handles various types of cargo, including liquefied natural gas used to supply the Russian military.

Ukraine’s army confirmed that 20 out of 30 fuel tanks had gone up in flames following the strike. They also said a huge fire engulfed an area of 1,000 square metres, which local emergency services struggled to contain.

In a statement to their Telegram channel, the General Staff wrote: “The destruction of 20 tanks, which is 70% of the total number, has been confirmed.

“In addition, a fire continues on the liquefied gas loading ramp, where about two dozen railway tanks are located.

“The Defence Forces continue to take measures to undermine the military-economic potential of the Russian occupiers and force Russia to stop its armed aggression against Ukraine.”

Video images of the blaze posted to social media channels by eye-witnesses, show a giant ball of flames erupting from the port.

Kyiv’s army targeted multiple sites in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine overnight on December 8.

An ammunition depot near the village of Chmyrivka in Luhansk Oblast was hit, as was a drone depot in the city of Donetsk.

Ukrainian forces also struck a fuel and lubricants depot near the Simeykine settlement in Luhansk Oblast, as well as a mobile fire group and a Pantsir-S1 air defence system in Donetsk Oblast.