Ukrainian Drones Hit Russia’s Kirishi Oil Refinery, Spark Fire in Escalating Conflict
Ukrainian drones targeted one of Russia’s biggest oil refineries in Kirishi, sparking a fire that officials quickly put out. This attack highlights the growing use of drones in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.
The Surgutneftegaz Kirishinefteorgsintez refinery, a top player in Russia’s oil processing, came under fire from Ukrainian drones. Russian officials confirmed the strike, noting that debris from a downed drone caused the blaze. Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko shared that three drones were shot down near Kirishi, and the fire was extinguished without any injuries.
Ukraine’s drone command backed this up, calling the hit on the Kirishi oil refinery a success. However, independent sources couldn’t yet confirm the full extent of damage. This facility processes about 17.7 million metric tons of crude oil each year—that’s around 355,000 barrels per day, or 6.4% of Russia’s total output. Such attacks on Russian oil refineries could shake up energy supplies in the region.
Russia reported taking down over 80 Ukrainian drones overnight, showing how intense drone warfare has become. In another incident, a Ukrainian drone slammed into a major Bashneft oil refining complex near Ufa on Saturday. The site, located about 1,400 kilometers from Ukraine’s front lines, saw a fire and some minor damage. Bashkortostan Governor Radiy Khabirov assured that the oil company would keep production steady despite the hit.
These drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and pipelines signal a major ramp-up in tactics. Ukrainian forces are hitting key energy targets deep inside Russia, while Russian drones have even been spotted over NATO ally Poland. As the conflict widens, both sides are leaning hard on drone technology to gain an edge.
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