Ukraine hits one of Russia's largest oil refineries, triggering massive fire
Ukrainian forces struck a major oil refinery in Russia's Volgograd (illustrative photo: Volgograd Region Emergency Situations Ministry)
Ukrainian forces struck one of Russia's largest oil refineries in Volgograd overnight on November 13, triggering a massive fire at the facility, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka oil refinery, which has a processing capacity of around 15 million tons of oil per year, was hit in the attack.
The facility produces gasoline, diesel fuel, and aviation fuel.
The attack sparked a fire at the refinery.
Several key facilities at the plant were reportedly hit, including the AVT-1, AVT-3, AVT-5, and AVT-6 primary oil processing units, a hydrotreating unit, a loading and unloading terminal, and six storage tanks, each with a capacity of 2,000 cubic meters.
The General Staff noted that the Volgograd refinery is one of the main fuel suppliers to the Russian army in the south. Fuel from the facility is delivered directly to the front line and to airfields from which aircraft take off to launch attacks on Ukraine.
Every hour of downtime at the facility means less diesel fuel for enemy tanks and trucks, less aviation fuel for aircraft, and reduced Russian revenues used to produce missiles, kamikaze drones, and explosives.
The military emphasized that Ukrainian forces continue to systematically undermine the aggressor's military and economic potential, exercising their right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
A massive fire broke out at a local oil refinery in Russia's Volgograd overnight on November 13 following a large-scale drone attack.
Eyewitnesses shared footage showing open flames and thick smoke rising above the facility as Russian air defenses were operating.
Since late October, Ukrainian forces have been systematically disrupting Russia's oil refining industry.
Within just a few days, Ukrainian forces struck five of Russia's largest oil refineries — Omsk, Kirishi, Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Yaroslavl — as well as several other facilities, including the Saratov and Novokuybyshevsk refineries.
These attacks significantly limit Russia's ability to produce fuel for its forces and reduce the Kremlin's oil revenues used to finance the war against Ukraine.
