Ukrainian drone hits Russian Arctic gas sites: Kyiv

Ukraine's special forces said they struck two gas condensate processing facilities in Russia's Arctic Yamalo-Nenets region on Wednesday, in what they described as their deepest attack inside Russia since Moscow's Ukraine offensive began in 2022.

Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone sparked a fire at an industrial facility in Novy Urengoy, about 2,800 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Russia made no immediate comment on Ukraine's claim about the specific targets.

Dmitry Artyukhov, governor of the Yamalo-Nenets region, said on Telegram that a drone attack on an industrial facility in Novy Urengoy had been repelled and that falling debris caused a fire. He said there were no deaths or injuries and that the scale and type of damage were being assessed.

Novy Urengoy, a city of about 100,000 people, lies just south of the Arctic Circle. Videos published on social media showed smoke rising over the city, while another showed flames coming from what appeared to be an industrial structure.

Ukraine's Fire Point arms company said on social media that the drone travelled more than 3,300 kilometres and hit its target. Artem Zhoga, the Kremlin's envoy to the Urals, said the strike was the first to hit the Arctic part of his region.

Ukraine has increased long-range strikes on Russia in recent months, in retaliation for daily Russian bombardment of Ukrainian towns and cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier in September that Ukrainian drones would make Russian air space "completely unsafe" for the duration of the war.