War in Ukraine: Kyiv announced a drone attack on two Russian oil refineries

Attacks on Russian soil. This Friday, Ukraine claimed responsibility for an overnight drone attack on two oil refineries in the Krasnodar region (southern Russia), claiming it caused at least “one major fire” at one of those facilities. “Drone services (Ukrainian security) “At the same time, two oil refineries in the Krasnodar region were hit: not only Ilsky, but also Afipsky,” said a source in the Ukrainian special services. Photos of the incident are being distributed on social networks. Le Parisien was unable to verify them independently.

Earlier this Friday, Moscow said it had neutralized 19 Ukrainian drones overnight in four different regions and over the Black Sea, with attacks primarily targeting energy infrastructure. “An attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using 19 aerial drones against objects on Russian territory was prevented,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement. “Air defense systems intercepted and destroyed drones in the areas of Kursk (2), Bryansk (5), Orel (4), Krasnodar (2) and over the Black Sea (6),” he specified.

Several terrorist attacks in Russia

In the Oryol region (about 300 km southwest of Moscow), the attack was aimed at energy infrastructure facilities, there were no casualties among the population, the regional governor Andrei Klychkov wrote on Telegram. In the Krasnodar Territory (south), a fire occurred at the Ilsky oil refinery at night, according to a press release from local emergency services, which, however, do not connect this incident with a drone attack. This refinery has already been attacked by drones last year.

Since the start of the offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, Russian territory has been subject to regular strikes and drone attacks attributed to Kyiv. In this context, on Friday the Russian army announced that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had visited the command post of Russian forces participating in the operation in Ukraine.

He was given reports on the situation at the front by senior army officers and thanked his soldiers for “successful offensive actions on most fronts and gaining more advantageous positions,” the army said in a press release, which did not specify the date of the trip.