June 18 (Reuters) -

Several oil storage tanks were on fire after a drone attack

early on Tuesday in the town of Azov in Russia's southern region

of Rostov, officials said.

"According to preliminary data, there are no casualties,"

Vasily Golubev, governor of the Rostov region that borders

Ukraine, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia's ministry of emergency situations said on Telegram

that the fire had spread across 5,000 cubic metres, and that

several dozen firefighters with 21 pieces of equipment were

battling the blaze.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Kyiv has often said

that targeting Russia's energy, military and transport

infrastructure undermines Moscow's war effort.

The town of Azov is situated on the Don River and is

about 16 kilometres from the Sea of Azov.