At least 81 attacks target oil refineries and fuel depots in Russia and Ukraine's occupied territories in 2024 – BBC
Photo: video screenshot
In the year 2024, there were at least 81 attacks on oil refineries and fuel depots in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine, with the southern regions of the Russian Federation experiencing the highest number of attacks on oil facilities.
The Russian service of the BBC reported that.
According to the publication, the number of attacks decreased significantly in the second half of the year, especially in September and October.
Refineries suffered the most from attacks: at least 31 attacks were carried out on them during the year, which often led to long-term repairs of damaged facilities.
One of the largest incidents at the end of 2024 was a drone attack on the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, which caused a large-scale fire. This plant, located near the Ukrainian border, played a key role in providing Russian military equipment with fuel. In 2024, its work was stopped at least three times, and it is not yet known whether production has been resumed after the last attack.
The BBC Russian Service notes that during the year the strategy of attacks on the Russian oil infrastructure has changed. Since the spring, the focus has shifted to facilities that provide the supply of military equipment, while previously the main targets were general-purpose refineries.
Photo: BBC
It should be noted that in April, the head of the Pentagon Lloyd Austin noted that attacks on Russian refineries could affect the global energy situation. In the second half of the year, the number of attacks decreased, which, according to the publication, is due to the reluctance of the United States to support attacks on oil infrastructure.
According to BBC estimates:
- About 20% of all attacks occurred in Krasnodar Krai,
- eight in the Rostov region,
- six in the Belgorod region,
- five each in the Orel and Volgograd regions.
At least 64 attacks caused fires.
It should be noted that in the Saratov region of the Russian Federation on the night of January 8, unknown drones attacked the city of Engels. According to preliminary data, they targeted an oil storage facility and hit the "Kristal" plant of Rosrezerv.
The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces emphasized that the oil depot supplied fuel to the Engels-2 military airfield, where Russia's strategic aviation is based.
For reference:
Recently, there has been a notable increase in the frequency of explosions at oil refineries in Russia. Many Russians have been expressing their concerns about the drone attacks, which they believe are being carried out by Ukrainian forces. These strikes have already targeted refineries in various regions, with one occurring as far as a thousand kilometers away from our country's border, in Tatarstan.
The Financial Times wrote that the United States has called on Ukraine to stop attacks on Russian refineries. Washington was concerned about a possible increase in gasoline prices in the year of the presidential election, which could affect President Joe Biden's ratings.
At the end of March, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the United States had "not reacted positively" to the attacks on Russian refineries. However, the White House cannot restrict Ukraine from using its own weapons.
Later, on April 9, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that such attacks could affect the global energy situation. He also advised Ukraine to focus on other goals. At the same time, Austin's assistant Celeste Wallander directly called Russian refineries "civilian targets."
As per Mykhailo Podoliak, an advisor to the head of the Presidential Office, Ukraine will continue to take down Russian oil refineries, as the Ukrainian military is obligated to target facilities that support the war efforts.
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