Ukrainian drones targeted the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk in Tatarstan, killing 12 people and injuring 39 others, according to regional authorities.

Tatarstan officials described the attack as a massive drone assault that targeted both industrial and civilian facilities in the city.

The incident comes amid an increase in long-range Ukrainian drone attacks against Russian energy and industrial infrastructure, as the war between Moscow and Kyiv continues.

Nizhnekamsk Hit by Massive Drone Attack

Nizhnekamsk came under a large-scale drone attack during the morning, according to the press service of Tatarstan's head, Rustam Minnikhanov.

Authorities reported 12 deaths and 39 injuries following the attack. Emergency and security services were deployed to deal with the aftermath and assess damage to affected facilities.

Details about the specific industrial sites hit in the attack were not immediately fully disclosed.

Major Russian Oil and Petrochemical Hub

Nizhnekamsk is located around 1,200 kilometres east of Ukraine's border and has a population of approximately 240,000.

The city is an important centre for Russia's oil refining and petrochemical industries. It is home to two refineries as well as a major petrochemical plant.

Its industrial importance has made the area strategically significant amid Ukraine's campaign of long-range drone strikes against Russian energy infrastructure.

Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure

Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones to strike oil facilities and other strategic infrastructure deep inside Russia.

Kyiv has argued that such operations are intended to put economic pressure on Moscow and reduce Russia's ability to sustain its military campaign.

Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries have contributed to disruptions in fuel supplies and affected refining capacity, according to reports.

Russian authorities have repeatedly criticised the attacks and have increased air-defence measures around important industrial locations.

Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Will Respond

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has defended the campaign, saying Ukraine's attacks are responses to Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory.

Zelenskyy has also said the pressure campaign is intended to push Russian President Vladimir Putin toward negotiations and an eventual end to the war.

Speaking on social media, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would continue responding to Russian attacks and argued that the consequences of the war should increasingly be felt inside Russia.

Read more: Supreme Court Directs MEA to Assist Families Affected by Russia-Ukraine War

Russia-Ukraine Conflict Intensifies

The Nizhnekamsk attack comes as both Russia and Ukraine continue using drones to target military, energy and industrial facilities far from the main battlefield.

Long-range strikes have expanded the geographical reach of the conflict, with Russian and Ukrainian cities facing increasing risks from unmanned aerial attacks.

The latest casualties in Nizhnekamsk highlight the growing human cost of the drone campaign as both sides continue to target strategic infrastructure.