Russia-Ukraine War Conflict Heats Up Again, Ryazan Oil Refinery Burns

<p>&nbsp;Last week, a fire broke out at a Ryazan oil refinery which is the third largest plant in Russia.</p><p><br /></p><p>According to media reports, the fire was successfully controlled by the fire department and there were no injuries.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, the Russian side accused Ukraine of being the main mastermind behind the drone attack that sparked the massive fire in western Russia. It was the latest in a series of escalating cross-border attacks amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which is now in its third year.</p><p><br /></p><p>Russian authorities said the drone strike managed to bypass electronic defense systems and dropped explosives on an oil refinery.</p><p><br /></p><p>In addition, the Ukrainian drone also targeted the city of St. Petersburg overnight. The report is based on a speech by Ukraine's Minister of Strategic Industry Oleksandr Kamyshin at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland on Friday.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ukraine also attacked a sulfur powder factory in Tambov, which is about 600 kilometers south of Moscow.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>It is the second attack on Russian oil supplies in response to damage to energy infrastructure in Ukraine.</p><p><br /></p><p>This tactic was exacerbated when both countries lost many lives due to the use of trench lines similar to what happened in the First World War. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers are believed to have been killed and wounded in the attack.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ukraine, which has a much smaller army than Russia, has suffered heavy losses and is now struggling to find support against the invading forces.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Russian side will drastically increase the production of ammunition this year in response to the recent Ukrainian attacks.</p><p><br /></p><p>The NATO alliance led by the United States will strengthen its military exercises in this decade for the next few weeks.</p><p><br /></p><p>Some 90,000 troops have taken part in months-long exercises that NATO says are aimed at showing they can defend all of its territory against Russian domination.</p>