Ukraine strikes 2 Russian refineries, other targets in overnight attack, military says

Editor's Note: The story was updated with a statement from the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

Ukrainian forces hit the Kuibyshev refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast and the Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai overnight on Aug. 28, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported.

The statement comes as confirmation of a mass drone attack that struck the two oil refineries and other facilities across Russia, as previously reported by local media.

The Kuibyshev facility, lying some 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the Ukraine-Russia border, has a production capacity of 7 million metric tons of oil per year, producing gasoline, diesel fuel, and other products, the General Staff said.

The Russian Telegram news channel Astra posted photos and video footage of a large-scale fire at the Kuibyshev refinery.

Samara Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed an attack against the region's infrastructure, saying that the strike was repelled and the subsequent fire was promptly extinguished.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces downed 102 Ukrainian drones across different regions overnight on Aug. 28, including 21 over Samara Oblast and 18 over Krasnodar Krai.

In Krasnodar Krai, residents reported six to eight powerful explosions, the Shot Telegram news channel wrote, reporting a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery. Krasnodar Krai authorities later confirmed the attack.

The facility lies in southwestern Russia in a region bordering Russian-occupied Crimea, and is located some 370 kilometers (230 miles) from the front line in Ukraine.

"This refinery, which mainly produces gasoline and diesel fuel, is used to supply the Russian army," Ukraine's General Staff said. "Its annual processing capacity is 6.25 million tons of oil. A large-scale fire was reported at the facility."

Further attacks targeted ammunition depots and several logistical facilities in Russia and Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian military.

A "massive drone attack" hit transport and logistical facilities in Volgograd Oblast, Governor Andrey Bocharov said. Fallen drone debris started a fire at a locomotive depot in the city of Petrov Val, he claimed.

The attacks were carried out jointly by the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Special Operations Forces, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), military intelligence (HUR), and other branches.

"Detailed information about the consequences of the strikes is being clarified," the General Staff said in a statement.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

Ukraine regularly targets Russian oil infrastructure in long-range strikes. Reuters reported that Ukraine struck 10 refineries throughout August, shutting down facilities representing 17% of national processing capacity, or 1.1 million barrels per day.

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The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat