Ukrainian Security Service strike drones hit three oil refineries belonging to Rosneft in Russia’s Samara Oblast on 16 March, Ukrainian Pravda reported, citing an anonymous source.
In the past three months, Ukraine has intensified its drone attacks against the Russian oil industry. Over the past week, Ukraine has targeted several Russian oil facilities with drone attacks, aiming to hit the core of Russia’s economy over two years into Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The nighttime attack targeted the Novokuibyshevsk, Kuibyshevsky and Syzran oil refining enterprises, according to the Ukrainska Pravda,
The sources reported that these plants process about 25 million tons of oil annually, which is nearly 10% of Russia’s oil refining capacity.
“Each strike reduces the flow of petrodollars that fuels Russia’s war economy,” the source reported.
On the morning of 16 March, Russian Telegram channels showed videos of the enterprises on fire in Russia’s Samara Oblast, located 1,235 km from Ukraine.
In Syzran, Samara Oblast, a fire broke out over 500 square meters. Several other drones allegedly attacked the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in the oblast, causing a fire.
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