Early Wednesday, Ukrainian drones struck two fuel depots in the Smolensk region of Russia, approximately 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. These attacks resulted in the destruction of 26,000 cubic meters of fuel, according to a Ukrainian law enforcement official speaking to POLITICO. The facilities, owned by Russian oil company Rosneft, were significantly damaged, triggering large-scale fires and necessitating evacuation and extensive firefighting efforts.
Drones sent by Ukraine’s SBU security service struck two Rosneft-owned oil depots in Russia’s Smolensk region in an overnight attack, a Ukrainian intelligence source said https://t.co/vR1uLXcxLE pic.twitter.com/K5wlfdd912
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 24, 2024
Smolensk Governor Vasily Anokhin confirmed the strikes, reporting that they targeted civilian energy facilities, leading to fires in both the Smolenskiy and Yartsevkiy districts. Anokhin assured that the fires were contained and did not pose a threat of spreading beyond the targeted sites. He also noted that there were no casualties from the incidents.
These attacks come in the backdrop of public caution from US officials, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who has urged Ukraine to avoid targeting Russian oil refineries to prevent destabilizing global markets. Nonetheless, Ukrainian officials maintain that such facilities are legitimate targets due to their role in fueling the Russian military efforts in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has been active in carrying out operations against Russian logistics and military infrastructure, with the head of Ukraine’s security services, Vasyl Malyuk, indicating a strategic reduction in Russia’s oil production and processing capabilities by 12% since the beginning of the year.
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