Ukrainian attack kills three at oil depot in Luhansk region, Russia-installed governor says

LUHANSK: A Ukrainian strike late on Friday killed three people, injured eight and triggered a large fire at an oil storage depot in Ukraine's occupied Luhansk region, the region's Russia-installed governor said.

Governor Leonid Pasechnik, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said eight people remained hospitalised after the attack in the town of Rovenky, 60 km (36 miles) from the regional centre of Luhansk. Six suffered injuries from the blast, and two suffered from smoke inhalation.

It was the second such assault in three days. On Wednesday, an attack on an oil depot in the town of Luhansk injured five people.

In both instances, Pasechnik suggested, without evidence, that Ukraine used U.S-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).

There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials.

Russian forces control most, but not all, of Luhansk region, one of four regions annexed by Russia in 2022 after launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian bloggers and Telegram channels reported the strike and posted pictures of a large blaze.