Ukrainian drone strikes reveal cracks in Russian oil shield
During the night from Thursday to Friday, there was an attack on one of the largest oil refineries in Russia, situated in the Volgograd region. The information came from Andrij Kovalenko of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation.
According to the Polish Press Agency, during the night from Thursday to Friday, an oil refinery in the Volgograd region, one of Russia's largest, was attacked. Andrij Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, reported that this facility can process about 15 million tonnes of oil annually, making it the sixth largest refinery in the country. The refinery produces gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and jet fuel.
Valeriy Romanenko, a Ukrainian aviation expert, emphasized that the Russian budget largely depends on the export of oil and petroleum products. Therefore, Ukrainian drones are intensifying attacks on Russian petrochemical enterprises. Romanenko noted that repairing damaged refinery equipment, especially those with imported components, is time-consuming.
Furthermore, no Western company will provide spare parts for their repair, added Romanenko.
Russia's logistical problems
The Ukrainian-Tatar resistance movement Atesh reported that after drone attacks on Russian refineries, Russian soldiers are trying to restore fuel supplies for the army in Crimea. The partisans noted that transporting fuel tankers by rail from remote regions of Russia is becoming increasingly expensive and more logistically complicated.
Attacks on Russian petrochemical infrastructure demonstrate how effective Ukrainian drone operations can be. They affect not only Russia's economy but also its military capabilities.
Russia's attacks on Ukraine
Ukrainian air defence successfully neutralized 59 out of 102 drones that were used by Russian forces to attack Ukraine during the night from Thursday to Friday. The Ukrainian Air Force command provided this information.
Russian drones, including Shahed strike drones and other types of mimicry drones, attacked from the directions of Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia and from Cape Chauda in Crimea, which Russia occupies. As a result of the Russian attack, there were damage in the Sumy, Odesa, and Cherkasy regions. Four drones are still in Ukrainian airspace.
