Explosions and flames lit up the night sky in Russia’s Bryansk region after Ukrainian forces targeted the Unecha oil pumping station, a critical hub of the Druzhba oil pipeline, late Thursday.

According to Ukrainian commander Robert Brovdy, the strike was carried out by the 14th Regiment of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, which launched a combined attack involving HIMARS rockets and drones. The assault destroyed key infrastructure and ignited a large fire at the facility.

The Bryansk regional governor, Alexander Bogomaz, confirmed the attack, saying emergency crews were working to contain the blaze. The extent of the damage to the Druzhba pipeline, one of Russia’s most important energy routes supplying Europe, is still being assessed.

The strike comes as peace deal talks between Moscow and Kyiv remain fragile, with both sides escalating attacks despite negotiations. Ukraine’s latest strike highlights its continued use of drone and precision-rocket warfare to weaken Russia’s military and economic assets deep inside its territory.

This is not the first time the Unecha station has been targeted, but Thursday night’s attack was described as one of the most damaging assaults to date, further exposing Russia’s vulnerability in protecting its energy infrastructure.