Ukrainian drones struck one of Russia’s largest oil refineries overnight into Sunday, causing explosions and sparking a fire, according to both Ukraine’s military and Russian officials.
The facility, operated by Russian oil giant Surgutneftegas, produces close to 18 million metric tonnes of crude oil per year, and is one of Russia’s top three facilities by output.
Russian officials say they intercepted over 80 Ukrainian drones in the skies across the country in the early hours of Sunday.
Russian officials did not however comment on the extent of damage the facility suffered.
Russia remains the world’s second largest oil exporter, but a seasonal rise in demand and sustained Ukrainian drone strikes have caused gasoline shortages in recent weeks.
According to Russian and Ukrainian officials, Ukrainian drones targeted one of Russia’s biggest oil refineries overnight into Sunday, igniting a fire and causing explosions.
It was the most recent in a series of Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil infrastructure, which Kyiv claims feeds the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The strike targeted the Kirishi refinery in the northwest Leningrad region of Russia.
The plant, run by the massive Russian oil company Surgutneftegas, is among the top three in Russia in terms of output, producing nearly 18 million metric tonnes of crude oil annually.
The General Staff of Ukraine reports that there were fires and explosions at the Kirishi refinery. It uploaded a picture that looked like it showed smoke clouds and a fire against a night sky.
Over 80 Ukrainian drones were reportedly intercepted by Russian officials in the early hours of Sunday while they were flying throughout the nation.
Alexander Drozdenko, the governor of Leningrad, reported that three drones were shot down over the Kirishi region, and that the falling debris was what started the fire. No civilians were killed or injured in the attacks, Drozdenko said, adding that the fire had also been extinguished.
However, Russian officials remained silent about the extent of the facility’s damage.
The assault also occurs just one day after US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his earlier threats of severe consequences for nations that keep buying Russian oil.
Trump threatened to apply tariffs of between 50 and 100 percent to Washington’s NATO allies on Saturday if these purchases continue.
In order to force the Kremlin to engage in negotiations, the 47th president of the United States says it is critical to shut down what he has identified as one of Russia’s main funding sources for its war in Ukraine.
In an attempt to fulfill his campaign pledge to end the war, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin last month. However, he has been frustrated by the rate of progress.
Although Russia continues to be the second-largest oil exporter in the world, recent weeks have seen gasoline shortages due to a seasonal increase in demand and ongoing Ukrainian drone strikes.
In certain parts of the nation, gas stations have run out of fuel, leaving drivers in long lines and prompting authorities to ration or stop selling.
In an effort to alleviate the scarcity, Russian authorities announced on Wednesday that gasoline exports would be suspended in full until September 30 and in part until October 31 for traders and middlemen.
