The Moscow Times reported that an oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region of Russia was set on fire after a Ukrainian drone attack early Friday.
Russian officials in Krasnodar said the Ilsky Oil Refinery caught fire after drone debris fell onto it.
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They said debris also fell on at least one home and a commercial site. Videos captured by citizens showed flames shooting high in the sky with thick black smoke rising above the city.
Ukraine’s military also said that 18 Russian vessels — 13 tankers, three dry cargo ships, a ferry, and an auxiliary vessel — were hit in the attacks.
The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defense units had shot down 376 Ukrainian drones overnight, including over Moscow.
Prior Attacks On The Ilsky Oil Refinery
The refinery is a highly strategic asset for Russia, serving as one of the largest private oil processing facilities in the Southern Federal District.
With a processing capacity of 6.6 million tonnes annually (approximately 138,000 barrels per day), it produces essential fuels such as diesel, fuel oil, and naphtha for both domestic consumption and export.
Ukraine Drone. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Due to its location in Krasnodar Krai—just 30 kilometers from Krasnodar and near vital Black Sea ports—the plant is a critical component of the logistical supply chain for Russian military operations in the Southern Military District and the occupied territories of Ukraine.
The Ilsky Oil Refinery has been the target of several previous drone strikes by Ukraine. According to open source intelligence, the refinery is involved in supplying fuel to the Russian army, which is why it has repeatedly become the target of drone attacks during the war between Russia and Ukraine, which is part of a broader campaign severely impacting Russia’s overall refining capacity and domestic fuel supply.
The refinery has been attacked 17 times since the war began in 2022 and five times this year. Some of the most recent attacks are listed.
The refinery was targeted on the night of 1-2 June, when drones attacked Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. A fire broke out at the oil refinery.
On the night of 16-17 February, Ukrainian drones struck the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai as well as logistics facilities and military personnel in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
The attack on the refinery and military sites caused a large-scale fire.
A few hours later on Friday, officials in Krasnodar said the blaze at the facility had been extinguished and that no injuries were reported.
Russia’s Oil And Gas Industries Continue To Come Under Attack
The latest drone strikes have hit Russia’s oil infrastructure hard, after President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that the repeated attacks were causing fuel shortages across the country.
Taganrog Mayor Svetlana Kambulova said on the Max messaging app that the authorities evacuated people from their homes in the affected port areas. She said a private house was damaged and the roof of an administrative building caught fire.
Initial reports suggested the fire engulfed the Kurgannaftoprodukt oil terminal (formerly Yugtranzitservis), which unloads and loads petroleum products onto sea-going vessels.
The Kyiv Post reported that Petro Andryushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation, also reported a fire near the V.M. Petlyakov Taganrog Aviation College, which trains specialists for Russia’s aviation and engineering industries.
“During the repelling of the attack, about three and a half dozen unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were destroyed in Taganrog and Azov, as well as the Azov and Matveyevo-Kurgan districts.
Unfortunately, there were consequences on the ground,” Rostov Oblast Governor Yury Slyusar wrote on Telegram.
“Emergency crews are extinguishing a fire at the seaport. According to preliminary information, there are no casualties,” he said.
While Slyusar didn’t identify the targets of the attack, Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova+ said geolocation analysis suggested the targets included the Azov oil depot, the Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant, or the Donterminal oil depot.
The Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant manufactures optical-electronic, radar, and precision-guidance systems used in Russian aircraft, armored vehicles, warships, and missiles.
Drone Attacks Are Causing Gas Restrictions Across Russia
Ukraine’s increased attacks on Russian energy facilities in recent months, part of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s 40-day influence operation to pressure Moscow to end the war, have also kept Moscow from reaping the benefits of surging gas and oil prices earlier this spring due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Numerous Russian oblasts, or regions, have implemented gas rationing, including Moscow, a huge blow to Russian prestige. CNN reported that nearly all of Russia’s 83 regions are experiencing gas shortages. Mediazona reported that rationing was taking place in 56 of them.
Eighteen Russian oblasts and Crimea have begun various rationing measures at local gas stations. However, the full scale of the shortages remains unclear, with some local restrictions limiting residents to purchasing only 30 liters of gasoline and prohibiting the filling of extra gas cans, prompting panic buying and hoarding.
Moscow is implementing a comprehensive ban on gas and diesel exports until July 31 and on aviation fuel exports until November 30 following a devastating wave of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes that have knocked out a sizable portion of the nation’s total oil refining capacity, effectively paralyzing critical energy infrastructure across central Russia.
Al Jazeera reported that an Indian oil firm, Nayara Energy, has reportedly sold 60,000 metric tons of gas that had been dispatched from India to Russia to help combat the shortages.
About the Author Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
