Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct 23 – Ukrainian drones targeted a significant gas processing facility in southern Russia, resulting in a fire and the suspension of gas intake from Kazakhstan, as confirmed by Russian and Kazakh authorities on Sunday.

The Orenburg plant, operated by the state-owned Gazprom and located near the Kazakh border, is among the largest gas processing complexes globally, with an annual capacity of 45 billion cubic meters. It processes gas condensate from Kazakhstan’s Karachaganak field alongside resources from Orenburg’s own oil and gas fields.

Regional Governor Yevgeny Solntsev reported that the drone strikes ignited a fire at a workshop within the plant and caused damage to the facility. The Kazakh Energy Ministry stated that Gazprom notified them of the plant’s temporary inability to process gas from Kazakhstan due to an emergency situation resulting from the drone attack. Ukraine’s General Staff also noted a “large-scale fire” at the Orenburg plant, indicating damage to one of its gas processing and purification units.

In recent months, Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, which it claims finances and fuels Moscow’s ongoing military operations.

In related developments, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine might need to concede territory to achieve peace with Russia, marking a notable shift in his stance on the conflict. During a Fox News interview, Trump indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would likely demand some form of territorial gain, stating, “He’s going to take something.” This comment reflects a change from Trump’s previous position, where he had shown increasing support for Ukraine’s efforts to reclaim lost territory.

Trump’s remarks came after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where he did not commit to sending Tomahawk missiles requested by Ukraine. He expressed concerns about depleting U.S. military stockpiles, stating, “We need them for ourselves too.” The potential delivery of Tomahawks, which would enhance Ukraine’s strike capabilities deep into Russian territory, could serve as leverage in negotiations with the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian prosecutors reported that Russia is adapting its aerial-guided bombs to target civilians more effectively. In Kharkiv, local authorities noted the use of a new rocket-powered aerial bomb, the UMPB-5R, in an attack on the city of Lozava, which is located 150 kilometers from Kharkiv.

Russian forces continued their offensive in Ukraine, with at least 11 individuals injured in the Dnipropetrovsk region due to drone strikes in the Shakhtarske area. Additionally, a Russian strike impacted a coal mine in the same region, but all 192 miners were safely evacuated.

Ukraine’s General Staff also claimed that a drone strike targeted Russia’s Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery in the Samara region, resulting in a fire and damage to its main refining units. This facility, operated by Rosneft, has an annual capacity of 4.9 million tons and produces over 20 types of oil-based products. Russian authorities have yet to confirm the damage reported by Ukraine.

On Sunday, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that its air defense forces intercepted 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 12 over the Samara region, one over Orenburg, and 11 over the neighboring Saratov region. Conversely, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 62 drones into Ukrainian territory, with 40 being shot down or diverted due to electronic jamming.