Ukrainian drones target key Russian refineries in a bold move
Russian services experienced a restless night. In the past few hours, Ukrainian drones have attacked several strategically essential sites in Russia. Among other things, a large refinery that supplies the Russian army was set ablaze.
Many of the reports given by Russian media or government officials are propaganda. They are part of the information warfare conducted by the Russian Federation.
Ukrainians targeted sites in the Astrakhan and Volgograd regions in southwestern Russia.
The governor of the Astrakhan region, Igor Babushkin, reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine attempted to attack fuel and energy facilities in that area with drones. - As a result of one of the drone crashes, a fire broke out, but there were no casualties - assured Babushkin.
Although the governor did not specify which facility was damaged, the Telegram channel Baza, linked to Russian special services, reported on a gas processing plant attack near Astrakhan.
Attacks in Russia. Aircraft grounded
Due to the attacks, the Russian aviation regulator Rosaviatsia suspended flights at airports in Astrakhan, Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Vladikavkaz, Grozny, and Makhachkala.
Similar restrictions were introduced at the airport in Volgograd, where explosions were reported at the local refinery and power outages occurred in the city.
Successful blow. Ukrainians aim to paralyze a key Russian industry
According to Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Centre for Countering Disinformation, the attacks on Russian refineries aim to restrict the production of fuel that supplies the Russian army.
- It is crucial to stop the Volgograd refinery from producing gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil and aircraft fuel, which it supplies to the Russian military - emphasized Kovalenko.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian air defence intercepted and destroyed 70 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory at night, including 25 over the Volgograd region, 27 over the Rostov region, and 7 over the Astrakhan region.
The Volgograd Refinery is one of the largest in Russia. Its processing capacity is approximately 49 million cubic metres of oil annually.
