Russia’s Federal Security Service has foiled a drone strike against an oil refinery in the northern republic of Komi, killing two Russian citizens it alleges were acting on orders from Ukrainian intelligence. The incident in Ukhta, reported on Monday by state media, marks the latest in an intensifying campaign of long-range sabotage that has stretched Moscow’s security apparatus from the front lines to the energy heartlands. According to the FSB’s public relations centre, the suspects retrieved two commercial-grade drones fitted with improvised explosive devices from a pre-positioned cache, intending to attack an unnamed oil industry facility.

When agents moved to arrest them, the pair opened fire and were “neutralised by return fire” in the ensuing shootout. Security personnel and civilians escaped unharmed, the service stated, adding that two Makarov pistols and components of foreign-manufactured explosives were recovered at the scene.