Ukraine attacks Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Rostov region, sparking fire
Photo: video screenshot
On the night of December 19, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the infrastructure and production facilities of the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Products Plant, located in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation. The Naval Forces of Ukraine's armed forces, the Security Service of Ukraine, and other defense components participated in this operation.
The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces reported that on Facebook.
According to the military, the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Products Plant is the only oil refinery in the Rostov region that is important in providing the Russian army with fuel. Its specialization includes the production of:
- fuel oil;
- furnace and marine fuel;
- diesel fuel;
- straight-run gasoline.
Attention! The video contains foul language!
The plant's design capacity is 7.5 million tons of oil per year.
The General Staff reported that a fire was recorded at the facility, particularly in the ELOU-AVT-2.5 catalytic cracking unit. Details of the extent of the damage are being clarified.
This strike is part of Ukraine's comprehensive strategy to undermine the military-economic potential of the Russian Federation. The defense forces continue to strike at critical infrastructure used to support armed aggression against Ukraine.
"There will be more to come…" the military summed up.
It should be noted that the acting governor of the Rostov region, Yuriy Slyusar, previously reported the fire at the plant.
As he noted, over the past day, the region was attacked by more than 30 drones and three missiles. Russian air defense allegedly shot down most of the air targets, but one of the drones hit the refinery.
According to Slyusar, the plant fire had been extinguished as of 6:45. He also reported one person injured by falling drone debris.
Meanwhile, social media also reported that the drones hit the ELOU-AVT unit responsible for primary oil processing.
Ukraine is blamed for the shelling. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that 84 Ukrainian drones had been shot down, 36 of which were allegedly shot down over the Rostov region.
For reference:
On the night of December 14, there were reports of powerful explosions in Oryol, Russia, as strike drones targeted an oil depot. The Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked the Oryol region. Special Operations Forces and other units of the Ukrainian army successfully struck one of the major Russian oil terminals.
Also, fighters of the Unmanned Systems Forces and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense struck an oil depot in the Bryansk region of the Russian Federation, attacking it on the night of December 11.
