Two oil refineries in Russia, the Ilsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai and the Syzran refinery in Samara Oblast, were struck by drones, resulting in large fires at both locations. According to the General Staff, these strikes caused significant damage.
The Ilsky refinery was reportedly hit by drones operated by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Earlier, officials from the Krasnodar operational headquarters indicated that the fire at Ilsky ignited after debris from a drone fell onto the facility. At least five individuals are said to have suffered injuries, although local authorities have not disclosed the extent of the damage.
The Ilsky refinery features six processing units with a total capacity of approximately 6.6 million tons of oil per year. It engages in the reception, storage, and processing of hydrocarbon raw materials, producing and dispatching petroleum products. These products are notably used to supply the needs of the Russian armed forces.
Reports from the monitoring Telegram channel Exilenova+ confirmed the attack on the Syzran refinery, indicating that it experienced at least three strikes. Russian publication Astra noted that the flames from the attack were visible from several kilometers away, including from the banks of the Volga River.
The Syzran refinery is part of the Rosneft oil complex and has a designed capacity of around 8.5 million tons of oil per year. The facility produces over 20 types of petroleum products, including motor fuels and road bitumen. It is recognized as a key asset in the oil refining sector of the Samara region and similarly supports the fuel requirements of the Russian military.
Additionally, the General Staff reported that a monitoring post of enemy forces on the self-elevating drilling rig ‘Sivash’ in the Black Sea was also targeted.
Context
- The Ilsky and Syzran refineries have been repeatedly targeted by drone strikes.
- Since the beginning of 2024, Ukraine has intensified its attacks on oil and gas facilities within Russia in response to Russian aerial assaults on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- On August 3, Bloomberg reported that Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries have forced Russia to reduce its oil processing volumes by approximately 20%, reaching the lowest level since May 2002.
