The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched drone strikes against two oil refineries and a military airfield in Russia’s Krasnodar region overnight on April 27, a source in the security and defense forces told the Kyiv Independent.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have launched a series of drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia's oil industry, which is crucial to sustain Moscow's war efforts. In one of the latest attacks, the SBU hit two oil depots in Russia's Smolensk Oblast on April 24, destroying 26,000 cubic meters of fuel.
Kyiv usually does not officially comment on strikes on Russian soil.
Drones hit "key technological objects" at the Ilsky and Slavyansk oil refineries overnight on April 27, causing fires and evacuation of personnel, the source said.
The SBU and Ukraine's Defense Forces also struck the Kushchyovskaya military airbase, "where dozens of military aircraft, radars, and electronic warfare devices were stationed," according to the source.
"The SBU continues to effectively target military and infrastructure facilities behind enemy lines, reducing Russia's potential for waging war."
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its forces shot down 66 Ukrainian drones over the Krasnodar region and two more drones over occupied Crimea.
Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of Russia's Krasnodar region, said on Telegram that Ukraine "attempted" to attack local oil refineries and infrastructure but claimed there were no serious damages. According to Kondratyev, over 10 drones were intercepted over the Slavyansk, Kushchyovsky, and Seversky districts, where the said facilities are located.
Roman Sinyagovsky, the head of the Slavyansk district, said that drones targeted "a factory" in the city of Slavyansk-on-Kuban, where the Slavyansk refinery is located. Sinyagovsky did not specify which facility was hit but said that the plant's distillation column was damaged.
The regional department of Russia's emergency services reported a fire at the Sloviansk refinery, adding that they had already extinguished it.
The Kyiv Independent is unable to verify claims made by Russian authorities.
According to Ukraine's Energy Ministry, a bitumen factory and "a number of other facilities" were also targeted in the Krasnodar region overnight. The Kyiv Independent's source did not provide information on the additional targets.
Russian Telegram channels also reported on the drone attack on the Krasnodar region, publishing videos showing large explosions. Baza Telegram channel said the attack lasted 1.5 hours.
Strikes against Russian energy targets have prompted criticism from U.S. officials, who have made it clear that Washington does not support Ukraine's attacks on oil refineries, citing fears that it could threaten the global energy market.
In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv has the right to use its own weapons with retaliatory strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Igor Kossov
(Updated: )
