Ukraine strikes Russian oil sites amid presidential elections
Three refineries in the Samara region and another in the Krasnodar Krai have been targeted. Ukraine is methodically dismantling Russia's oil infrastructure, actions the Kremlin labels as "terrorist attacks" aimed at disrupting the ongoing three-day presidential elections in Russia.
6:12 AM EDT, March 17, 2024
A fire erupted overnight from Saturday to Sunday at the Slavian refinery in Krasnodar Krai, following an attack by Ukrainian drones, as reported by Reuters early in the morning, citing local authorities.
A message published on Telegram stated the drones were "neutralized," but the crash of one drone ignited a fire. A refinery worker tragically lost their life to a heart attack during the incident.
"Terrorist Attacks"
Russia alleges that Ukraine is conducting "terrorist attacks" to interfere with the three-day presidential elections in Russia.
However, targeted strikes on Russian oil facilities have been frequent for months. Since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian forces have executed dozens of successful attacks on key refineries, oil ports, and fuel depots.
Flames and dark plumes of smoke slicing through the sky serve as stark reminders that the war's reach extends far into Russian territory, showing that critical infrastructure is vulnerable to Ukrainian drones.
Ukraine is revealing Russian vulnerabilities. A calculated series of drone attacks on refineries and fuel depots in Russia strikes at the heart of the country's fuel security, crippling the logistical support for the invaders, and dealing a significant blow to Russian oil interests.
Season of Fires
Last night, SBU strike drones targeted three Rosneft oil refineries in the Samara region. Together, these facilities process roughly 27.6 million tons (approximately 202.9 million barrels) of oil annually, accounting for nearly 10 percent of Russia's total oil refining capacity.
The attacks ignited fires at the facilities in Syzran, covering an area of about 5,382 square feet. A refinery in Novokuibyshevsk was also hit.
Sources from Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported on Friday that Ukrainian drones had successfully attacked a refinery in Kaluga Oblast, near Moscow. On Wednesday, the targets included Oil Products Plants in Novoshakhtinsk in the Rostov Oblast, as well as refineries in Ryazan, Kstovo in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, and Kirishi in the Leningrad Oblast.
On the night of March 11 to March 12, an explosion occurred at the Lukoil refinery in Kstovo, capable of processing 17 million tons (about 124.7 million barrels) of oil annually. The facility had to suspend production. This marks a significant victory for the Ukrainian military, as these sites are crucial to the fuel supply of the Moscow region, which accounts for about 30 percent of the national gasoline consumption.
