On March 12, Ukraine launched an extensive drone attack against Russian targets, striking critical infrastructure and attempting to breach land borders. This operation marks one of the largest Ukrainian drone offensives to date, highlighting the increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the conflict by both sides. The attacks targeted several regions across Russia, including Moscow, Leningrad, and notably, the NORSI oil refinery, causing significant damage and halting a considerable portion of its production.
The NORSI refinery, crucial for Russia’s oil processing capacity, faced severe damage, particularly to its main crude distillation unit (AVT-6), effectively stopping half of the refinery’s operations. This refinery plays a vital role in Russia’s energy sector, processing around 5% of the country’s crude oil and producing essential fuels. The attack’s timing is particularly sensitive for Russia, with domestic gasoline prices a concern ahead of the upcoming presidential election and amid a six-month ban on gasoline exports.
Lukoil describes it as an ‘operational upset’ at the 17-million tonne/year Kstovo refinery in Nizhny Novgorod. This facility handles 5% of Russia’s oil volume and sits 800 km away from Ukraine 👀 pic.twitter.com/b1xaXqH0Pw
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 12, 2024
The Kremlin asserts that the Russian military is adequately responding to these challenges and continues its operations in Ukraine, claiming the destruction of over 15,000 Ukrainian drones since the conflict began. These developments reflect both the tactical evolution of the conflict, with increased reliance on drone strikes and proxy engagements, and the strategic significance of targeting energy infrastructure to undermine the adversary’s capabilities and morale.
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