NewsDrones ignite blaze at Russian refinery amid rising tension
Drones ignite blaze at Russian refinery amid rising tension
3:41 AM EDT, March 23, 2024
Another Russian refinery has been set ablaze in the Samara region of Kuybyshev. Authorities have not officially disclosed the cause of the fire, though witnesses have reported seeing drones in the area.
The news of the refinery fire in Kuybyshev first emerged through independent Russian news portals Astra, Baza, and Mash. These reports show eyewitnesses described hearing explosions at the refinery site before the fire commenced. Additionally, drone sightings were mentioned nearby.
The incident was later confirmed by the Ria Novosti agency. "Drones attacked the oil refinery in Kuybyshev and also targeted the oil refinery in Novokuybyshevsk within the Samara region. Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries reported," stated regional governor Dmitriy Azarov to the press.
This event marks another occurrence of a refinery in Russia catching fire due to a drone attack in recent times.
**The USA urges Ukraine to refrain from attacks?**
According to a report by the Financial Times on Friday, the United States has reportedly advised Ukraine against targeting Russian oil refineries and other vital energy facilities. The concern is that such actions might provoke a surge in energy prices and escalate the conflict further.
Olha Stefanishyna, the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, has declared that, from a military perspective, oil refineries within Russian borders are considered legitimate targets for Ukraine. She added that Ukraine's actions align with NATO standards.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian President's Office head, refuted claims that the U.S. had officially requested Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
