Krasnodar, Russia – Ukrainian drones reportedly launched another attack on an oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, marking a recent series of strikes on Moscow’s oil facilities. The assault occurred around 3 a.m. local time, with local authorities confirming that “several” drones targeted the Slavyansk oil refinery, resulting in a fire at the facility as one of the drones crashed.
In the past few days, Kyiv has intensified its attacks on Russia’s key infrastructure, particularly its oil refineries. The targeting of the Krasnodar facility adds to a series of strikes, with reports indicating that this may be the sixth oil refinery hit in the span of a week. The attacks seem aimed at disrupting Russia’s oil production and its capacity to engage in warfare in Ukraine, coinciding with presidential elections anticipated to extend President Vladimir Putin’s term for another six years.
Ukraine, through its military intelligence agency spokesperson Andriy Yusov, stated that each drone strike in recent weeks has disrupted the operation of facilities and impeded the supply of fuels and lubricants to occupying forces in Ukraine. Russian authorities confirmed that their defenses intercepted 17 Ukrainian drones over the Krasnodar region during the attack.
The impact of the drone strike on the Krasnodar plant resulted in a fire that has since been extinguished, with local officials confirming one fatality due to a heart attack during the incident. Reports revealed that Kyiv’s security service, accompanied by special forces and drone experts from the armed forces, were responsible for the attack on the refinery.
On previous days, there were similar incidents where Ukrainian drones targeted oil refineries in various regions across Russia, resulting in fires and temporary disruptions. The escalation of attacks on Russia’s facilities underscores the heightened tensions between Ukraine and Russia, posing significant challenges for both countries in the ongoing conflict. The development of drone technology for military purposes adds a new dimension to the conflict, with implications for future warfare strategies in the region.