Ukrainian Drones Are Causing Trouble at Russia’s Oil Refineries
In a series of daring strikes, Ukraine has launched heavy drone attacks on multiple Russian oil refineries, causing fires and significant damage across the country.
These attacks appear to be a strategic move aimed at disrupting Russia’s oil industry and energy production capabilities — although Russian President Vladimir Putin has attempted to downplay the strikes as an attempt to disrupt the presidential election where he practically ran unopposed.
One of the major targets was the Rosneft-controlled Ryazan oil refinery, Russia’s largest with a capacity of 350,000 barrels per day. The refinery suffered a fire after a drone attack, leading to the shutdown of two primary refining units responsible for processing over 70% of the facility’s crude intake.
Another refinery hit was the NORSI plant owned by Lukoil near Nizhny Novgorod, which accounts for nearly 6% of Russia’s total refined crude. Its main crude distillation unit was damaged, halting at least half of the refinery’s production, including a significant portion of the country’s gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and aviation fuel output.
The Kirishi refinery, one of Russia’s top two refineries operated by Surgutneftegaz, also came under attack, with a Ukrainian drone being destroyed nearby. This refinery processes over 6% of Russia’s crude and produces substantial amounts of various fuel products.
Other refineries targeted include the Syzran plant controlled by Rosneft, where one of its two crude distillation units was damaged, and the Slavyansk refinery in the Krasnodar region, which suffered a fire after a drone attack.
The privately-owned Kaluga refinery near Moscow was also hit, though it is not considered a major facility.
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