An oil facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region, near the Crimean bridge, has suspended operations following a drone attack. According to the plant’s management, the facility was attacked by 10 drones, resulting in a fire and significant damage, including to an oil refining unit. The attack, allegedly carried out by Ukraine, has led to a partial halt in the refinery’s operations.
Russian Telegram channels have released video footage purportedly showing the dramatic moment of impact. The attack is the latest in a series of strikes targeting Russian oil facilities, with Ukraine being blamed for many of them. However, Ukraine has often refrained from directly claiming responsibility.
Russia’s defense ministry has reported that its air defense systems have intercepted and destroyed 66 Ukrainian drones. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian intelligence source has told Reuters that Kyiv was behind the attacks, which also targeted the Ilsky refinery and the Kushchevsk military airfield in the same region.
The incident has raised concerns about retaliation and a potential spike in global oil prices. The United States has reportedly urged Ukraine to cease its attacks on Russian oil refineries, citing fears of Russian retaliation and the potential political impact on President Biden’s reelection campaign.
However, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine has the right to use its own weapons for self-defense. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has seen both sides target each other’s energy infrastructure, with Russia conducting mass missile strikes on energy facilities across Ukraine.
Analysts have suggested that the conflict is likely related to the control of energy resources within Ukraine, particularly in the eastern, energy-rich regions that have been the focus of Russia’s military operations.
