Russian Orthodox priests have brought a revered icon of Holy Mary to the site of a massive fire at an oil depot in southern Russia, which was ignited by a Ukrainian drone strike. The local diocese expressed hope that the icon’s presence would aid in quelling the flames that have continued to rage despite extensive firefighting efforts.
The fire at the oil depot in Proletarsk, located in the Rostov region, has been burning uncontrollably since Sunday, with roughly 20 of the facility’s 70 storage tanks engulfed in flames, according to the RIA news agency. Over 500 firefighters have been mobilized to combat the blaze, but so far, their efforts have met with limited success.
A photograph released today shows two Orthodox priests standing solemnly in a field near the depot, flanking a wooden pedestal that supports a large icon. Behind them, a thick column of black and gray smoke in the sky.
“The priests were speaking with the firefighters and blessing all the firefighting equipment,” the local prefect of Volgodonsk explained in an emailed statement to Reuters.
Meanwhile, local residents have taken to social media to express concerns about the deteriorating air quality caused by the fire. However, authorities have reassured the public that pollution levels remain within permissible limits.
Source: ANA-MPA, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas