Russia‘s Ryazan oil refinery was struck by drones launched by Ukraine‘s Defence Intelligence (DIU) on the night of April 30 to May 1. This incident follows a similar drone attack on an oil refinery in Russia‘s Voronezh Oblast during the same night.
A source from Ukrainska Pravda within the DIU confirmed the attacks, describing the impact at Ryazan as significant.
“A military target in Ryazan has been hit. There is significant damage, it was bright,” the source said.
While the DIU usually remains tight-lipped about its operations, the source indicated that the reconnaissance team is gathering more information regarding the consequences of the attack on the oil refinery in Voronezh Oblast.
Despite the DIU’s policy of neither confirming nor denying reconnaissance operations, it has made clear that oil refineries supporting the Russian military-industrial complex are considered legitimate military targets.
This stance comes as Ukraine continues to face Russian armed aggression.
The Ryazan oil refinery, operated by Rosneft, a Russian state-owned oil and gas company, erupted into flames following the drone attack.
The Russian authorities confirmed the overnight drone attacks in both Ryazan and Voronezh oblasts, reporting a fire at the Ryazan refinery.
Ukraine‘s Security Service (SBU) also carried out drone strikes on two oil refineries and a military airfield in Russia‘s Krasnodar region during the night of April 27, as confirmed by a source in the Ukrainian security and defence forces to the Kyiv Independent.
In the past few weeks, Ukrainian forces have initiated a series of drone strikes designed to impact Russia‘s oil industry, a key component supporting Moscow’s war effort. On April 24, the SBU targeted two oil depots in Russia‘s Smolensk Oblast, resulting in the destruction of 26,000 cubic meters of fuel.
The source stated that on the night of April 27, drones struck “key technological objects” at the Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries, leading to fires and the evacuation of personnel.
Additionally, the SBU and Ukrainian Defense Forces targeted the Kushchyovskaya military airbase, “where dozens of military aircraft, radars, and electronic warfare devices were stationed,” according to the source.
It’s a tragic event that underscores the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The use of drones in such attacks is a worrisome development, and the impact on the oil refineries is alarming. Let’s hope for a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
As a journalist, it’s important to consider the broader implications of such attacks. The escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine is concerning, and these drone strikes on oil refineries only serve to exacerbate the situation. It’s crucial for diplomatic efforts to be intensified to avoid further escalation and potential conflict.