Ukrainian drones have hit 12% of Russia’s oil refining capacities in the span of two days, causing operations to halt at three plants located deep within Russian territory. The affected facilities are in the Ryazan, Rostov, and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts, according to Bloomberg.
“Since the start of this year, Ukraine has used drones to target important Russian oil facilities from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea. As fighting on the front lines swings in Moscow’s favor, Kyiv has been trying to hamper the country’s oil-product exports and its ability to send fuel to its forces,” journalists write.
Under attack by Ukrainian drones were Rosneft PJSC’s Ryazan plant near Moscow, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in the southern Rostov region, and Lukoil PJSC’s Norsi plant in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
In February, Ukrainian attacks targeted nearly one-fifth of Russia’s crude oil processing capacities, but by early March, the industry had recovered.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that dozens of Ukrainian drones attacked Russia overnight on March 13. Invaders assert that they shot down 65 drones, but local unofficial media report numerous strikes.
Photos: Bloomberg; The Moscow Times
