A Ukrainian drone attack set fire to the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in southern Russia early Thursday, causing a halt in operations, regional authorities reported. The fire, which broke out following the drone strike, was quickly contained, and no casualties were reported. The incident marks the third attack on the refinery this year, highlighting the increasing frequency of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
BREAKING:
Ukrainian drones strike the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in the Rostov region.
The refinery has been on fire for hours
pic.twitter.com/ZUYA6uxQ2Z— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 6, 2024
In addition to the attack on the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, another drone strike overnight destroyed an oil tank at a depot in Stary Oskol, Belgorod region. This fire was also extinguished without causing any injuries. Videos circulating on social media depict Russian oil refineries ablaze, emphasizing the impact of the attacks.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that 13 drones were intercepted overnight in various regions, including annexed Crimea, Belgorod, and Rostov. In the city of Rostov-on-Don, emergency personnel swiftly responded to extinguish the flames at the Novoshakhtinsk refinery. Rostov region Governor Vasily Golubev confirmed the fire was under control and operations at the refinery were halted to ensure safety.
The Novoshakhtinsk refinery, located about 10 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, plays a crucial role in southern Russia’s oil production and has been a recurring target in the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian military intelligence has reported at least 13 successful drone attacks on Russian oil refineries since the conflict began, aiming to disrupt fuel supplies critical to Russia’s war effort.
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of Belgorod region confirmed that a Ukrainian kamikaze drone attack on an oil depot in Stary Oskol caused a fire and shattered windows but resulted in no casualties. The increased targeting of energy infrastructure by Ukrainian forces aligns with Kyiv’s strategy to undermine Russia’s war capabilities.
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