In the latest development, two Ukrainian drones targeted a primary oil processing facility at the Volgograd oil refinery in southern Russia on Saturday. The operation was carried out by Ukraine’s SBU security service, according to a source in Kyiv who spoke to Reuters. Local authorities in Russia confirmed the extinguishing of a fire at the refinery, which is owned by oil producer Lukoil.
This strike is part of a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil facilities in recent weeks, with Kyiv viewing such infrastructure as crucial for the Kremlin’s war efforts. The source in Kyiv emphasized that these drone attacks would persist, stating, “By hitting oil refineries working for the Russian military-industrial complex, we not only cut off the logistics of fuel supplies for enemy equipment, but also reduce the filling of the Russian budget.”
The distance between the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, near the Russian border, and the southern Russian city of Volgograd is over 600km. Russia has been conducting regular long-range missile strikes on targets in Ukraine since the onset of its full-scale invasion, prompting Kyiv to actively seek ways to counter Moscow’s more advanced military technology.
Ukraine’s efforts have focused on promoting innovation in drone technology and supporting the production of long-range drones, providing the country with a means to retaliate and disrupt key elements of Russia’s military strategy. The ongoing conflict underscores Ukraine’s determination to leverage technological advancements for defense and strategic initiatives.
