Ukraine on Sunday denied Russian allegations that one of its drones struck the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, while confirming a series of overnight attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

Ukraine’s General Staff said its drones hit the Saratov oil refinery in southwestern Russia, triggering a major fire. The refinery, owned by Russian state oil company Rosneft, produces diesel and gasoline and is considered part of Russia’s military supply chain, according to Ukrainian officials.

Russian authorities acknowledged damage to civilian infrastructure in the Saratov region, while local reports indicated that the refinery was ablaze.

Ukraine also claimed responsibility for a strike on a fuel depot in Matveev Kurgan in Russia’s Rostov region, near the border with occupied eastern Ukraine. Regional officials reported a large fire and the evacuation of nearby residents.

In addition, Ukrainian forces said they targeted the Lazarevo oil pumping station in Russia’s Kirov region, more than 1,200 kilometres from Ukrainian-controlled territory. The facility plays a role in transporting Siberian oil to Belarus.

Meanwhile, Kyiv rejected Moscow’s accusation that a Ukrainian drone had struck the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility.

Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom claimed a drone damaged the wall of a turbine hall at one of the plant’s power units, but reported no harm to critical equipment. Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev described the incident as a deliberate Ukrainian attack.

Ukraine’s military dismissed the allegation as propaganda, insisting it had not targeted the facility and emphasizing its adherence to international humanitarian law regarding nuclear sites.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, expressed serious concern following the reported incident.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, seized by Russian forces in the early stages of the war, has repeatedly been at the centre of accusations and counter-accusations between Moscow and Kyiv, raising fears of a potential nuclear accident.

Elsewhere, Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted 212 of 299 drones launched by Russia overnight. Fourteen drones reportedly reached their targets, while debris fell at five locations.

Russian drone attacks also struck the city of Dnipro and an oil refinery in Ukraine’s Rivne region, causing fires. Regional officials said no casualties were reported at the refinery, and emergency crews were working at the site.