PTC Web Desk: A child was among at least 13 persons killed after a Ukrainian drone strike hit the Russian region of Tatarstan, in one of the deadliest attacks claimed by Kyiv since the war began more than four years ago.

The attack took place in Nizhnekamsk, an industrial city located more than 1,000 km from the Ukrainian border. Russian authorities said 75 persons were also injured, with 21 requiring hospital treatment.

The latest strike comes as Russia and Ukraine continue to intensify long-range attacks. The United Nations has warned that the increase in such strikes has contributed to a rise in civilian casualties.

Child among those killed in Tatarstan attack

Tatarstan's regional authorities confirmed that 13 persons had died in the Nizhnekamsk attack. Russia's Investigative Committee later said a child was among those killed. The regional government also said citizens of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were among the victims.

The deadly attack has added to growing concerns over the impact of long-range drone warfare on civilians.

Ukraine says oil refinery was targeted

Ukraine's General Staff said its forces struck the Taneco oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, which is controlled by Russian oil company Tatneft.

Kyiv said the operation was part of its broader campaign to reduce Russia's ability to support its military operations.

Tatarstan is an important energy-producing region of Russia and is home to several major oil-processing facilities. Ukrainian forces have increasingly targeted Russian refineries and other energy infrastructure as part of their retaliatory strikes.

Unverified videos circulating on social media appeared to show a large cloud of dark smoke rising from the area of an oil facility following the attack.

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Russia's Defence Ministry said its air-defence systems intercepted 456 Ukrainian drones during the overnight attacks. The ministry did not say how many drones may have reached their targets or caused damage. Earlier, officials in Tatarstan had described the assault as a “massive” Ukrainian drone attack.

Ukraine, meanwhile, said Russia launched 126 drones during its overnight strikes on Ukrainian territory.

Deadly Russian strike hits Kharkiv region

Russia also carried out deadly attacks in Ukraine on Monday.

In the northeastern Kharkiv region, a Russian artillery strike on the village of Bugaivka in Chuhuiv district killed five people, according to Ukrainian officials.

The regional prosecutor's office said Russian forces carried out a heavy artillery attack on a residential area, damaging and destroying several houses. Authorities released an image showing a home reduced to rubble after the strike.

Elsewhere, a man was killed when a Russian drone hit a taxi in Ukraine's frontline Kherson region, local officials said.

A woman was also reported killed in a Ukrainian attack on Russia's border region of Belgorod.

Odesa faces major power outages

The latest attacks have also highlighted the growing pressure on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. In the southern Odesa region, tens of thousands of households remained without electricity after Russian strikes damaged the power grid over the weekend.

The outages have raised fresh concerns about how Ukraine will manage the approaching winter after years of repeated attacks on its energy system.

Zelensky warns of severe energy crisis

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the country's energy system remains in a critical condition following repeated Russian attacks.

He said Ukraine has “virtually no intact thermal power plants”, highlighting the scale of the damage caused to its power-generating infrastructure.

With winter approaching, Kyiv faces the difficult task of restoring damaged facilities while protecting the remaining energy infrastructure from further Russian strikes.

Ukraine faces shortage of air defence missiles

Ukraine is also under increasing pressure to maintain its air-defence capabilities. Kyiv has been facing shortages of missile interceptors as Russia has stepped up attacks using ballistic missiles, which are among the most difficult weapons for Ukrainian air-defence systems to stop.