Ukrainian drones strike Russian oil refineries in Ryazan and Voronezh
Photo: Telegram / ASTRA
On the night of May 1, drones from Ukrainian intelligence launched attacks on two oil refineries located in Russia's Ryazan and Voronezh regions.
The information was confirmed by Hromadske's source in the Ukrainian special services and Russian media.
The publication's source reported that the attack resulted in damage. Ukraine's intelligence carried it out, but no further information is available now.
Ryazan region
On May 1, in the evening, a drone launched an attack on the Ryazan region, causing a significant fire to break out at the Ryazan oil refinery.
Russian Telegram channels published the relevant footage. At the same time, the governor of the region, Pavel Malkov, confirmed the attack, noting that "preliminarily, there are no victims; an investigation is underway."
According to eyewitnesses, the attack took place around three o'clock in the morning. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a rumble followed by two explosions. After the incident, operatives were working at the plant.
Eyewitnesses reported that the initial four explosions occurred on the plant grounds at around 2 AM, followed by a massive fire at the refinery. The local Ministry of Emergency Situations also warned of drone danger, which Malkov later confirmed.
Photo: Russian Telegram channels
Voronezh region
Drones were also spotted in the sky over the Voronezh region. Air defenses were also operating there, and Russian media reported damage to houses in the region allegedly due to the downing of one of the aircraft-type drones.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has reported that six Ukrainian drones were supposedly intercepted, with:
- three being over the Voronezh region,
- one over Ryazan,
- one over Belgorod,
- and one over Kursk.
- The department did not mention the damage to the refinery.
The Ryazan oil refinery, which Rosneft owns, is situated in the city of Ryazan. Its maximum oil processing capacity is stated to be 17–18 million tons per year. The majority of its output is designated for export.
It should be noted that the publication Politico pointed out that the attacks of Ukrainian drones on refineries in the depths of Russia not only forced the Kremlin to defend its own territory but also achieved the unthinkable – "the largest oil country in the world has run out of gasoline."
As a result, diesel fuel prices for Russian consumers have increased by 10% over the past week. Gasoline prices, which have risen more than 20% since the start of the year, have already hit a six-month high.
For reference:
It should be noted that on the morning of April 27, the Russian Federation announced another drone attack on the Krasnodar region: there were explosions and a fire. Slayavnsk-EKO refinery, Ilsky refinery, and "several other objects" were hit.
As reported by Rubryka, purported drone attacks occurred in the Voronezh region on the night of April 24. The governor of the region, Oleksandr Gusev, announced this information. Videos of a fire in Voronezh circulated on social media, indicating the possibility of an event at an oil refinery.
Also, on the same night, fires broke out at two fuel and energy facilities in the Smolensk region of Russia. Local authorities said that the region was allegedly under attack by drones.
