On August 18, 2023, a drone attack in the Rostov region of Russia led to a fire at industrial warehouses in the town of Proletarsk. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that all six Ukrainian drones involved in the assault had been shot down.
According to the Russian military, the drones were targeted during the night, with five being intercepted over various regions, including Belgorod, Kursk, and Rostov. A subsequent attack was reported in the morning, resulting in additional interceptions in Belgorod.
The fire at the warehouses was triggered by debris from a drone that fell after the attack, igniting diesel fuel. The regional governor, Vasily Golubev, confirmed the incident and noted that firefighting efforts were temporarily halted due to a second drone attack. By 7 AM, a fire train had arrived in Proletarsk to assist with extinguishing the flames.
This incident follows a significant escalation in drone warfare, as Ukrainian forces previously launched a large-scale attack on Russian military airfields on August 14, targeting four locations including Voronezh and Nizhny Novgorod. These developments highlight the ongoing tensions and military confrontations between Ukraine and Russia, with potential implications for regional stability and international relations.