According to a source in Kyiv, two Ukrainian drones carried out an attack on a primary oil processing facility at the Volgograd oil refinery in southern Russia. The operation was conducted by the SBU security service.
Russian local authorities confirmed that a fire had been put out at the refinery following a drone attack. The facility is owned by Lukoil, a major oil producer.
This attack is part of a series of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian oil facilities, which Kyiv believes are crucial to the Kremlin’s war efforts. The source in Kyiv stated that more drone attacks of this nature would continue.
The source explained that by targeting these refineries, Ukraine not only cuts off fuel supplies for enemy equipment but also reduces the filling of the Russian budget.
The distance between the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and the Russian city of Volgograd is over 600km.
Russia has been carrying out regular long-range missile strikes on Ukrainian targets since the start of its full-scale invasion, prompting Kyiv to seek ways to counter Moscow’s more advanced military technology.
One response has been to focus on developing and supporting the production of long-range drones in order to enhance Ukraine’s ability to retaliate.
Tom Balmforth reported this article, with editing by Toby Chopra.
