Syzyran, Russia – Two oil refineries in Russia’s Samara region fell victim to Ukrainian drone strikes, marking the latest escalation in attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure. The strikes have triggered a surge in energy prices, impacting both Russian and global markets. The incidents occurred over 500 miles southeast of Moscow, underscoring the reach and capability of the drone attacks originating from Ukraine.
Governor Dmitry Azarov of Samara confirmed that state-owned energy giant Rosneft’s facilities were targeted by Ukrainian drones, resulting in fires at the sites. Despite the attacks, no immediate reports of injuries were received. Unverified footage circulating on Telegram revealed a blaze at the Syzran refinery, with the fire covering 5,380 square feet in the Volga River region.
In a simultaneous assault, several drones attacked the Novokuibyshevsk refinery further east, leading to another fire that was extinguished within half an hour. Notably, the Perviy Zavod oil refinery near Kaluga, a key Russian military site, was also reportedly struck by Ukrainian intelligence directorate GUR in a separate incident.
The series of drone strikes extended to the Rosneft oil refinery in Ryazan, as well as facilities in Nizhny Novgorod, Leningrad, Oryol, and Rostov regions. These coordinated attacks have disrupted nearly 12 percent of Russia’s oil-processing capacity, resulting in a significant impact on the nation’s fuel supply chain.
As a consequence of the strikes forcing refinery shutdowns, concerns over the balance of supply and demand have led to a spike in gasoline prices. The price of AI-95 gasoline on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange surpassed 60,000 rubles ($657) per ton, marking a 1.88 percent increase – the highest in five months.
These drone strikes coincide with Russia’s ongoing presidential election, where President Vladimir Putin is widely expected to secure a comfortable victory. The attacks serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by Russia’s critical infrastructure amidst geopolitical tensions and military conflicts.