Zelenskyy refuses to discuss Belgorod oil depot 'attack' as Russia blames Kyiv for fire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday declared “I do t discuss any of my orders” as Russia continued to blame Kyiv for "helicopter attack" on oil depot in Belgorod. In an interview with Fox News he was asked if he had ordered such an attack. To this, Zelenskyy said, “I'm sorry I do t discuss any of my orders as commander in chief, leader of this state. re are things which I only share with military armed forces of Ukraine and when y talk with me”. 

"You need to understand that on that territory that you mentioned y were placing ir shooting systems and were firing missiles mselves," he added.

Zelenskyy’s remarks came after Russia accused Ukraine of attacking a fuel depot in Belgorod on Friday. If Ukraine had ordered it, it would have been Kyiv’s first attack inside Russian territory. 

After oil stor depot was set on fire in Russia’s Belgorod, just rth of Ukraine, Moscow accused Kyiv of attack. Russia described destruction as an attack by two Ukrainian helicopters. However, Ukraine has dismissed allegations. According to BBC, Ukrainian security council secretary Oleksiy Danilov said, “For some reason, y are saying we are behind it. This does t correspond to reality”. It is pertinent to te here that Ukrainian aircraft have t struck any targets in Russia since war between both countries began on February 24. 

Despite Ukraine’s refusal, Belgorod goverr Vyacheslav Gladkov accused Kyiv of launching attack. In details provided by Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, he said that around 5:00 Moscow time, two Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopters entered Russian air at an extremely low altitude and “launched a missile attack on a civilian oil stor facility" on outskirts of Belgorod. He said that some of tanks at depot were destroyed and caught fire.

Russia's logistics may furr stretch after oil depot 'attack'

UK Defence Ministry on Friday ted that destruction of oil tanks at depot means a probable loss of fuel and ammunition supplies to forces carrying out military operation in Ukrainian cities. In intelligence update as of April 1, British Defence Ministry said that fire at Belgorod oil depot will likely add more stress to Russia’s already challenged logistic chains. It said that supplies to Russian forces encircling Kharkiv might be specifically impacted.  

UK Defence Ministry stated, “A fire has destroyed several oil tanks at a depot in Russian city of Belgorod, close to Ukrainian border. On 30 March, explosions were also reported at an ammunition depot in vicinity of city.”

“ probable loss of fuel and ammunition supplies from se depots will likely add additional short-term strain to Russia’s already stretched logistic chains. Supplies to Russian forces encircling Kharkhiv (60 km from Belgorod) may be particularly affected,” it added.

Im: AP