Ukrainian forces have launched a series of strikes against Belgorod using more than 200 drones. Several civilian casualties have been reported, although the targets appeared to be a natural gas plant and missile plants.
The damage to Russian energy infrastructure is yet another blow to Hungary and Slovakia, as they have been calling on Zelensky to restart the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to both countries. For now, the two have halted diesel exports, while Budapest vowed to block the next sanctions package being voted on in Brussels today.
“Ukraine has blocked oil deliveries on the Druzhba pipeline. There is no technical obstacle; this is a political decision. They are pressuring us over Russian energy, money, and EU membership. I make it clear: Hungary will not give in to blackmail,” said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán earlier today.
🇭🇺 @PM_ViktorOrban: Ukraine has blocked oil deliveries on the Druzhba pipeline. There is no technical obstacle; this is a political decision. They are pressuring us over Russian energy, money, and EU membership. I make it clear: Hungary will not give in to blackmail. pic.twitter.com/mh4dtaxoWe
— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) February 23, 2026According to Kyiv Independent, “Drones operated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) struck a ‘critical’ Russian oil transportation hub, the Kaleykino oil pumping station, in the Republic of Tatarstan overnight on Feb. 23.”
“The SBU is systematically working to curb the extraction and transportation of Russian oil,” the source said, with the portal adding that “the tanks at the Kaleykino oil pumping station are key buffer tanks on the Druzhba pipeline.”
Pro-Ukrainian accounts have been celebrating the attacks on X.
Initial impact of last night's first strike on the most important pumping station for Russia's Druzhba oil pipeline in Almetyevsk, Russia, a full 1100km from Ukraine.
Absolute humiliation for Hungary's Victor Orban who now has no chance of regaining the Russian oil flow on which… pic.twitter.com/PRhYYaxgm9
— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) February 23, 2026Russia's war-related costs are rising again, and this is more bad news for Orbán and Fico – Ukrainian drones struck the Kaleikino oil pumping station in the Almetyevsk district of Tatarstan, which is the starting point of the Druzhba pipeline👇 pic.twitter.com/AP3gKxBlbB
— EDVIN KORNELIUS (@edvin_kornelius) February 23, 2026A man and a 3-year-old child were injured in the attack when their car was struck by a drone, reports Borsonline. They attacked Russian missile plants with the Flamingo cruise missile. Ukraine is also trying to weaken Russian gas processing plants.
The most severe attacks hit Krasnoyaruzsky (45 drones), Graivoronsky (32 drones and 11 shells) and Shebekinsky (30 drones) districts. Three residents were also injured in the Graivoronsky district.
“There has been, as a result, serious damage to energy infrastructure,” Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov posted on Telegram, calling the attack “massive,” although the extent of the damage had not yet been assessed, according to Reuters.
The Ukrainians and Russians have simultaneously reported that they have used a home-made “Flamingo” cruise missile to strike a Russian missile plant in Udmurtia and a gas plant in Samara Oblast, with both sites reportedly attacked on the night of Saturday, Feb. 21.
“The enemy attacked two industrial plants in the county at night. Emergency services are already working on the ground,” stated Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, as cited by Borsonline. The gas processing plant in the city of Neftegorsk was also reportedly damaged.
