Ukraine hits largest oil terminal in Russian-occupied Crimea, sparks massive blaze, General Staff confirms
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include confirmation from the General Staff and additional reporting.
Ukrainian drones struck Russian-occupied Crimea overnight on Oct. 6, hitting the Feodosia oil terminal, General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Oct. 6.
The terminal, located about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Ukraine-controlled territory, is the largest oil storage facility in Crimea. It can hold up to 250,000 tons of fuel, which supplies Russian forces.
Pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel Crimean Wind said the explosion sparked a fire visible from tens of kilometers away, while additional blasts were reported near the Saki and Kacha airfields.
According to the General Staff, the terminal serves as a multifunctional facility for transferring oil and petroleum products between rail, sea, and road transport.
Crimean Wind later reported that the facility continues to burn as of Oct. 7, with the blaze now spreading to oil tanks in the northern part of the depot.
Alisa Yurchenko
Ukrainian forces also struck an ammunition depot belonging to a logistics battalion of Russia's 18th Combined Arms Army in Crimea, though the results of that strike are still being assessed.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed it had intercepted 251 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 40 over the occupied peninsula.
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims.
Ukraine last struck the Feodosia oil depot in October 2024, prompting Russian-appointed local occupation authorities to declare a state of emergency.
The strike comes amid Ukraine's intensified campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.
Fuel shortages have worsened across occupied Crimea and Sevastopol, with around 50% of gas stations halting gasoline sales, Russian business outlet Kommersant reported on Sept. 24.
Citing data from 17,000 gas stations, the outlet said the Southern Federal District — which Russia claims includes occupied Crimea — was among the hardest hit, with over 14% stations suspending fuel sales.
The shortages also follow a string of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries in August.
According to the Financial Times, sixteen of Russia's 38 oil refineries have been hit since August 2025, forcing Russian diesel exports to drop to their lowest level since 2020.
Tim Zadorozhnyy
