Ukrainian drones struck a major Russian oil refinery located approximately 1,400 kilometers from the front line on Thursday, resulting in a fire. According to officials from both Ukraine and Russia, the refinery, operated by state-controlled energy giant Gazprom in the central Bashkortan region, was targeted.
The attack is part of a recent wave of drone strikes aimed at Russia’s energy infrastructure, as Ukraine seeks to disrupt Russia’s vital energy revenue streams that fund its military operations. A source within Ukraine’s SBU security agency confirmed that the drones hit a critical part of the refinery, describing it as the “heart” of the facility.
Unverified images circulating on Russian social media platforms showed a fire at the refinery, with a significant plume of dark smoke rising above it. While Russia typically does not acknowledge successful Ukrainian strikes, Radiy Khabirov, the head of the Bashkortostan region, confirmed the attack on Thursday. He stated that two drones attacked the facility, but there were no reported fatalities or injuries. The site’s security measures were activated, and the drones were neutralized.
Khabirov added that an assessment of the damage is underway, and efforts are being made to extinguish the fire. This strike is the latest in a series of attacks over the summer months that have significantly impacted Russia’s refining capacity. As a result, fuel prices have increased across the country, and petrol shortages have been reported in several regions.
In response to the fuel crisis, the Kremlin has extended a ban on petrol exports to maintain domestic market prices. Additionally, Gazprom Neft has delayed planned maintenance work at one of its sites to avoid exacerbating the fuel shortage. The international community, including US President Donald Trump, is also taking steps to limit Russia’s ability to earn revenue from its energy sales, with plans to impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil.
The ongoing attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure and the subsequent measures to limit its energy revenue streams may have significant implications for the country’s economy and military operations. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community will likely be closely monitoring the developments and their potential impact on the global energy market.