Ukrainian drones launched an attack on Russia’s third-largest oil refinery on Tuesday, located approximately 800 miles away from the front lines. The strike targeted a core unit responsible for processing around 155,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Russian authorities reported that their jamming devices detected a Ukrainian drone near Tatneft’s Taneco refinery, which boasts an annual production capacity exceeding 17 million tons (equivalent to 340,000 barrels per day). Following the attack, a fire broke out at the refinery but was swiftly extinguished within 20 minutes, according to the state RIA news agency. Fortunately, production at the refinery remained uninterrupted.
Images from the scene indicated that the drone struck the primary refining unit, known as CDU-7, which contributes approximately half of the plant’s total annual production capacity.
Ramil Mullin, the mayor of Nizhnekamsk where the refinery is situated, confirmed the drone attack but assured that there were no casualties or significant damage, and the refinery’s operations remained intact.
The attack in Tatarstan, a highly industrialized region southeast of Moscow, was part of a series of assaults launched in the early hours of Tuesday. According to a Ukrainian intelligence source, the attack aimed to target a major Russian oil facility in Tatarstan, intending to diminish Russia’s oil revenue. Additionally, Ukrainian-made drones reportedly targeted a facility manufacturing long-range “Shahed” attack drones, causing substantial damage.
These drone attacks on Russian refineries have become increasingly frequent in recent months, impacting Russia’s substantial trade in refined oil products. Roughly 14% of Russia’s refining capacity has been affected by these attacks, leading to concerns in Washington about potential escalation with Russia, particularly given its status as the world’s largest nuclear power.
Ukraine justifies these drone attacks as necessary measures in its fight for survival against Russian aggression, citing widespread damage to infrastructure, including power plants, inflicted by Russian airstrikes. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, drones have played a significant role in the conflict, serving both as attackers and surveillance tools.
While Ukraine claims responsibility for planning and executing these drone attacks, the United States has distanced itself, reiterating its non-support for Ukrainian strikes inside Russia.
Tuesday’s attacks also targeted enterprises in Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk, resulting in injuries, according to Tatarstan’s head, Rustam Minnikhanov. Unverified footage circulating on social media captured the aftermath of the explosions, with people seen fleeing for cover.
The Washington Post previously reported Russia’s mass production of drones at a plant located in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, shedding light on the country’s capabilities in drone warfare.
