A fire erupted at a Lukoil oil refinery in Volgograd, Russia, following a drone strike, local authorities confirmed. The southern Russian city of Volgograd, located about 200 miles from the border with Ukraine, experienced the blaze as reports surfaced of heightened targeting of energy facilities in Russia by Kyiv. According to Andrey Bocharov, the regional governor of Volgograd, Russian air defenses and electronic warfare systems successfully repelled a drone attack, causing one drone to ignite a fire at the oil refinery. Unverified footage of the strike circulated on social media, showcasing a blast in the night sky over the Krasnoarmeysky district of the city.
The oil refinery in Volgograd is the largest producer of petroleum products in the Russian Southern Federal District, with a reported capacity of 14.8 million tons. Social media users claimed the facility would be out of operation for an extended period following the strike. The blaze, which covered an area of approximately 3,200 square feet, was quickly contained, resulting in no casualties or injuries, as reported by Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry.
Foreign security policy expert Giorgi Revishvili suggested that the ongoing successful strikes deep inside Russia by the Ukrainian Armed Forces will have a far more devastating impact with the increase in drone production by Ukraine. The recent drone strike on the Lukoil oil refinery in Volgograd follows a similar incident at the Nevsky Mazut refinery in St. Petersburg, where a drone caused an explosion. This attack in President Vladimir Putin’s hometown raises questions about launch locations, according to expert insights. Additionally, previous drone strikes hit oil facilities in Krasnodar, Bryansk, Oryol, and Leningrad oblasts in January.
The frequency of drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure has been noted, with Kyiv often not claiming direct responsibility for the attacks. This pattern raises concerns over the escalation of conflict and the potential impact on the region’s energy supply. The targeting of Russia’s energy facilities has sparked discussions about the origins and motives behind the strikes, as well as the potential for further disruptions in the future.