Ukraine launches major strike on Russian oil infrastructure, hits depot, 2 refineries

Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, striking an oil depot in Krasnodar Krai and two oil refineries in Russia's Republic of Bashkortostan, President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed on June 25.

"Our long-range operations are a consistent, precise response to Russia's dragging out the war and attacking Ukrainian cities and communities," Zelensky wrote on X.

Photos and videos posted to social media by local residents purport to show flames emanating the Poltavskaya oil depot in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the region.

Alexander Kharlitonov, the head of the Krasnoarmeysky district, wrote on social media the fire at the oil depot was a result of "falling drone debris."

The Poltavskaya oil depot, about 300 kilometers (about 180 miles) from the front line, was struck overnight on June 25, according to Zelensky.

The depot is a large facility for the receipt, storage and shipment of diesel fuel and gasoline. Its tank farm consists of 28 units, the SBU said.

Ukrainian forces also struck two oil refineries in Ufa in Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan — Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim and Bashneft-Novoil — on the morning of June 25. Ufa is about 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) from Ukraine's eastern border.

Fires broke out at the facilities following the explosions, with the SBU saying media footage shows at least two separate fire sites.

Radiy Khabirov, head of Russia's Republic of Bashkortostan, said drone debris fell in an industrial zone in Ufa and that the attack was reportedly repelled. Khabirov did not specify which industrial zone he was referring to.

Khabirov added that emergency services were responding to the aftermath of the attack, saying no one was injured and that production processes in the industrial zone were not disrupted.

The Kyiv Independent cannot immediately verify the reports nor claims made by Russian officials. Ukraine's military has not yet commented on the reported attack.

No information was immediately available as to the extent of the damage caused.

The attack on the oil depot comes amid a wider Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea region, with power outages reported in occupied Crimean — located across from Krasnodar Krai to the northwest, across the Kerch Strait.

Kyiv has routinely targeted Russian oil infrastructure in Krasnodar Krai, in an effort to disrupt oil revenues that fuel Moscow's war effort.

Ukraine has increasingly relied on domestically produced drones to strike targets deep inside Russia, particularly facilities tied to oil refining, logistics, and defense production.