Reports: Ukrainian drone strikes target oil depots, substations in Crimea, Mariupol, western Russia

What happened

Russian Telegram media channels have reported that Ukraine's military launched multiple medium-range drone strikes overnight on June 8, targeting oil depots and electrical substations in Russian and Russian-occupied areas including Crimea, Mariupol, and western Russia. This information is based on local social media posts and Telegram reports, but the Kyiv Independent has not independently confirmed the events, and Ukraine’s military has not issued official comment on this latest wave of strikes.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Images and videos circulated on social platforms show thick black smoke at the Grushevaya Balka oil depot in Novorossiysk, the largest oil storage site in the Caucasus with a capacity of approximately 1.2 million tons of fuel. Additionally, a moderate fire reportedly occurred at an oil depot near Simferopol in occupied Crimea owned by the Crimean gas station group ATAN. These incidents come amid recent fuel shortages across Crimea linked by Russian officials to disrupted supply chains, while Ukrainian attacks have focused increasingly on fuel infrastructure.

Electrical substations in occupied Mariupol and the community of Hvardiiske near Simferopol were also reported to have caught fire during these strikes. Prior Ukrainian drone strikes in the region have included damage to key logistics hubs and military infrastructure, particularly along the land corridor connecting Russian-controlled territories in southern Ukraine to Crimea—a vital route for Russian operations.

Known from the source

• Russian Telegram channels reported overnight drone strikes by Ukraine on June 8 against oil depots and substations in Crimea, Mariupol, and western Russia.
• Social media posts show smoke at Grushevaya Balka oil depot in Novorossiysk, which has 1.2 million tons of fuel capacity.
• A moderate fire reportedly took place at an oil depot near Simferopol in occupied Crimea owned by ATAN.
• Electrical substations reportedly caught fire in occupied Mariupol and Hvardiiske near Simferopol.
• Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces have reported continued medium-range strikes targeting military and infrastructure sites in Russian-occupied territories.

What remains unclear

This wave of strikes follows multiple attacks earlier on June 7 targeting military sites and air defenses across Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, according to Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces. Russian-installed officials in occupied Kherson Oblast also reported damage to a bridge near Chonhar connecting Crimea to southern Ukraine. These concentrated efforts underline an ongoing Ukrainian campaign utilizing domestically produced drones to strike deeper into Russian-controlled areas.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify the occurrence and extent of damage at oil depots and substations in Crimea, Mariupol, and Novorossiysk. Confirm if Ukraine's military conducted these specific strikes or if another actor is responsible. Obtain independent confirmation of any casualties or material damage reported.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Kyiv Independent. Open the source.