Ukrainian drone strikes ignited fires at multiple oil facilities in southern Russia on Friday, according to local officials. The attacks targeted the Ilsky Oil Refinery in the Krasnodar region, fuel depots in the Rostov region, and the Taganrog sea port, prompting evacuations in affected areas.
Details of the Attacks on Oil Infrastructure
The Ilsky refinery, which processes approximately 138,000 barrels of oil daily, caught fire after debris from a drone fell in the Severskaya district, damaging a private home. In the Rostov region, firefighters fought blazes at two fuel depots and the Taganrog sea port. Governor Yury Slyusar reported that local authorities evacuated residents from homes near the impacted sites.
Reports indicate that the fire at the Taganrog facility, specifically the Kurgannefteprodukt oil terminal, disrupted operations involving loading and unloading petroleum products. Although a private residence was damaged and an administrative building's roof caught fire, local officials confirmed there were no reported injuries.
Impact on Russian Fuel Supply
These attacks come as President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that such drone strikes have led to significant fuel shortages across Russia. The ongoing assaults have exacerbated already strained fuel supplies, resulting in long lines at gas stations and rising prices nationwide. Putin stated that a task force is addressing these shortages, although he downplayed their severity.
