KYIV: Ukraine on Wednesday targeted a Russian oil refinery located in Ryazan, south of Moscow, in a latest drone attack on Russia’s energy infrastructure, authorities said. The attack marks an escalation in Ukraine’s use of drones to target strategic sites within Russia amid the prolonged conflict between the two nations.
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine planned the operation, deploying a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) to strike the Ryazan oil refinery during the early hours of May 1, according to a statement provided to AFP. The attack reportedly occurred around 2:00 am local time (2300 GMT), underscoring the precision and coordination involved in the operation.
While details of the damage inflicted by the drone strike remain undisclosed, Pavel Malkov, the governor of Ryazan region, acknowledged the attack but provided reassurances regarding casualties. In a post on the messaging app Telegram, Malkov stated, “The Ryazan region was targeted by a drone attack. According to preliminary information, there are no casualties.” Ryazan, situated approximately 190 kilometers (120 miles) southeast of Moscow, bore the brunt of the attack.
Videos circulating on social media platforms showed the aftermath of the strike, capturing the explosion in the darkness of the night sky and plumes of smoke billowing into the air. The refinery targeted in the attack is owned by Rosneft, one of Russia’s leading oil companies. According to Rosneft’s website, the refinery boasts a production capacity of 17.1 million tons of oil per year, making it a significant component of Russia’s energy infrastructure.
