"Overnight, the Ukrainian Armed Forces again attempted a massive drone attack on facilities located in the region, including a fuel and energy complex," Astrakhan Oblast Igor Babushkin claimed on March 17.
The Trump administration dealt a blow to Russia's energy sector last week after it let lapse an exemption allowing Russian banks to use U.S. payment systems for energy transactions. The move closed an important financial channel for Russian oil and gas exports and comes as Washington looks for ways
"They are taking a break for now while contemplating if there are ways to work around," a source told Reuters.
"The area of the fire is more than 1,000 square meters, and emergency services are working," Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratiev said.
A large fire covering over 1,000 square meters engulfed the Tuapse oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight on March 14, regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram.
The Trump administration toughened sanctions on Russia's oil and gas industry on March 13 by not renewing an exemption that allows Russian banks to access U.S. payment systems to conduct energy transactions.
Russian diesel exports to African countries nearly halved in February, dropping from 1.27 million tons in January to 684,000 tons, according to a report by the Center for Price Indices (CPI) reviewed by RBC.
Ukrainian forces reportedly struck the Druzhba pipeline in Russia's Oryol Oblast on March 11. Following the attack, Peter Szijjarto said that the oil supply was halted.
The operation "struck a number of Russian strategic objects, enabling armed aggression against Ukraine," the military said.
The Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery produces jet fuel for supersonic aircraft such as Su-27 fighter planes and Tu-22 bombers, a HUR source claimed.
The Burevestnik oil depot lies over 900 kilometers (559 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
Drones attacked an oil refinery in Russia's Leningrad Oblast overnight on March 8 in an operation carried out by Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), a HUR source told the Kyiv Independent.
"We control the situation and are prepared for such circumstances. Refineries in the Czech Republic are well prepared, and the state material reserve system is reliable, so I can assure everyone that there are enough oil reserves for both households and businesses," Czech Industry and Trade Minister Lukas Vlcek said.
A day earlier, oil prices fell by about 2%, hitting a 12-week low.
The first explosions occurred around 3 a.m. local time, according to residents. A fire broke out at the facility as a result.
No cause was given but Ukrainian forces have repeatedly launched drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia's oil industry beginning in the spring of 2024.
A video of the strike shows an initial explosion is followed by a spectacular series of much larger subsequent explosions.
Turkish imports of Russian oil plummeted in February in response to sweeping sanctions the U.S. and U.K. imposed on Russia's oil sector in January.
Russia’s Ryazan oil refinery suspended operations after a Ukrainian drone attack set its main crude distillation unit, CDU-6, on fire, Reuters reported on Feb. 24.
The EU paid 21.9 billion euros ($22.9 billion) for Russian fossil fuel imports in the third year of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, exceeding the 18.8 billion euros ($19.6 billion) in financial aid sent to Ukraine that year, according to a new report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air published on Feb. 24.
The Ryazan Oil Refining Company's facility was previously struck overnight on Jan. 24 and Jan. 26.
Russian authorities are currently assessing the damage, the source said.
Oil prices remained near a one-week high on Feb. 19 as concerns over supply disruptions in Russia and the U.S. continued to drive the market.
Moscow suggested that American oil companies may return to the country, Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev said before the talks started in Riyadh.
Residents posted videos on social media purportedly showing a large blaze at the refinery. Sounds of explosions were reported at around 2:45 a.m. local time.
Residents earlier posted videos on social media purportedly showing explosions at the refinery in the Seversky district of Krasnodar Krai.
A large fire reportedly erupted at the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight on Feb. 17, following large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks on the region, Russian Telegram media channels reported.
Local residents reported hearing over 15 explosions as drones targeted an oil refinery in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the city.
Key developments on Feb. 11: * Ukraine could trade territory in potential peace talks with Russia, Zelensky says * Ukraine strikes Russia's Saratov oil refinery, military confirms * US won't send troops to Ukraine, Pentagon chief says * North Korea has sent 200 long-range artillery guns to Russia, Seoul says * Ukrainian drones destroy Russian
Chinese refiners are being offered Russian ESPO crude at discounted prices as rising concerns over U.S. sanctions create logistical and administrative challenges, deterring buyers, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 11.
"The refinery mainly produces gasoline, fuel oil, and diesel fuel. In total, more than 20 types of oil products (are being produced there)," the General Staff said.
"The Saratov Oil Refinery is one of the key facilities in Russia's fuel infrastructure. Its refining capacity reaches 7 million tons of oil annually," Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, said.
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