A Ukrainian drone strike early Friday morning hit the Oryol Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant in western Russia, triggering a powerful explosion and cutting heat and hot water to thousands of residents in the city of Oryol.

Security camera footage from the industrial zone captured the moment of impact around 1:43 a.m. on October 31, 2025, showing a massive fireball erupting near pipelines and storage tanks adjacent to a railway yard. The strike occurred approximately 165 kilometers inside Russian territory—one of Ukraine’s deepest confirmed attacks to date—demonstrating Kyiv’s growing long-range drone capabilities.

Local Russian authorities confirmed the incident, reporting that a section of the plant’s fuel pipeline sustained heavy damage. Emergency crews rushed to contain the blaze as black smoke billowed across the skyline. While officials stated there were no casualties, the disruption left large sections of Oryol temporarily without heating and hot water service amid dropping autumn temperatures.

The Oryol power station is a key node in the region’s energy grid, providing both civilian and industrial power. Analysts say the attack was likely part of a broader Ukrainian effort to degrade infrastructure supporting Russia’s war logistics, particularly energy networks used for rail transport and defense production.

The strike was among several overnight drone attacks targeting Russian energy facilities, underscoring Ukraine’s expanding ability to project force deep into Russian territory. Despite Moscow’s acknowledgment of the damage, the Kremlin has yet to announce details of any immediate retaliatory measures.

The escalation highlights the shifting nature of modern warfare—where precision drone technology enables asymmetric strikes far beyond traditional frontlines. For Ukraine, such operations mark both a symbolic and strategic challenge to Russia’s sense of security deep within its own borders.