Fires at Russian oil refineries - Blackout in Afipsky, residents evacuated in Uryupinsk
Illustrative photo: Russia’s Emergencies Ministry (Telegram mchs_official)
Oil refineries in Yaroslavl, Krasnodar Krai, and the Volgograd region were attacked by unknown drones, causing fires at the facilities, according to Russian channels.
Yaroslavl
Air raid sirens began sounding in Yaroslavl at around 11:00 PM.
Shortly afterward, local television aired a warning about a drone threat.
Yaroslavl Airport activated the Kover emergency plan and has suspended all arrivals and departures.
Local residents suggest that unknown drones targeted the Slavneft–YANOS oil refinery.
Volgograd region
Residents in the city of Uryupinsk, Volgograd region, also reported spotting drones overhead.
Witnesses said explosions were heard and a fire broke out near the local oil refinery.
Later, the regional governor, Andrey Bocharov, confirmed that drone debris hit the refinery, reporting that a fire had broken out at an oil storage facility as a result.
Residents of homes located near the oil depot are being evacuated.
Krasnodar Krai
Explosions were also heard in the settlement of Afipsky in Krasnodar Krai.
Local паблики, citing eyewitnesses, reported a strike on the local oil refinery.
There were also reports of a power outage in the settlement. Photos and videos showing Afipsky without electricity circulated online.
Attacks on Russian oil refineries
As reported on December 12, units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck the Slavneft–YANOS oil refinery in Russia’s Yaroslavl region. A fire was recorded following the explosions.
The facility is one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, processing up to 15 million tons of crude oil and gas condensate annually. It is involved in supplying the needs of the Russian armed forces.
Earlier, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that on the night of December 5, Ukraine’s Defense Forces hit the Syzran oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region, as well as infrastructure at a seaport in Krasnodar Krai.
On the night of December 6, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces also carried out strikes on Russian targets, hitting the Alchevsk Metallurgical Plant and, once again, the Ryazan oil refinery.
In addition, on the night of November 29, Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck the Afipsky oil refinery, an aircraft repair plant, and a maritime oil terminal on Russian territory.
