Drones strike Tuapse refinery, leading to massive fire

The New Voice of Ukraine
·2 min read
Rosneft’s Tuapse oil refinery in blaze after drone attack
Rosneft’s Tuapse oil refinery in blaze after drone attack

A major fire broke out at Rosneft’s Tuapse oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai after an overnight drone attack on the recently repaired facility, the Astra Telegram channel reported on May 17.

The region's operational headquarters said the attack was carried out by two drones, and the fire was quickly located by emergency services. The attack has traditionally been blamed on Ukrainian forces.

In addition to the fire, Tuapse residents experienced communications disruptions.

This is not the first time the refinery has been targeted. Last January, Ukraine's SBU Security Service drones damaged the vacuum and atmospheric columns of the primary oil processing unit.

On May 7, Reuters reported that repairs had been completed in April and that the refinery had resumed operations after the January attack.

Drone strikes on Russian refineries

Ukraine has regularly conducted long-range drone strikes on oil refineries in Russia since late January.

At least 13 successful attacks have been carried out on Russian refineries, causing a 12% reduction in Russia's oil production and processing, Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) head Vasyl Malyuk reported.

Revenue from oil exports constitutes a third of Russia's budget and a significant portion of its military funding.

Reported attacks have targeted the following facilities:

  • Tuapse Refinery, January 24

  • Volgograd Refinery, February 3

  • Afipsky Refinery, February 9

  • Ilinsky Refinery, February 9

  • Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez Refinery, March 12

  • Ryazan Refinery, March 13

  • Kaluga Refinery, March 15

  • Syzran Refinery, March 16

  • Kuybyshev Refinery, March 16

  • Slavyansk Refinery, March 17

  • Novokuibyshev Refinery, March 23

  • Taneco Refinery, April 2

  • Ilsky Refinery, April 27

  • Slavyansk Refinery, April 27

  • Ryazan Refinery, May 2

  • Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat Refinery, May 9

  • Kaluga Refinery, May 10

Russia is facing a gasoline shortage due to the oil refinery attacks.

Diesel prices for Russian consumers surged nearly 10% in a week, and gasoline prices have risen 20% since the beginning of the year, Politico reported on April 30.

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