Ukraine's combined attack on refinery near Russia's Rostov: Details
Photo: Oil refinery in Rostov region was hit by drones and missiles (rosmedia)
On the night of December 19, a combined missile and drone strike was launched against the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Products Plant in the Rostov region of Russia. It was a joint operation of the Ukrainian Navy and the Security Service of Ukraine, according to a Security Service of Ukraine source.
According to the source, the Security Service of Ukraine's drones first overwhelmed the Russian air defense system protecting the plant. By doing so, they created a window of opportunity for Ukrainian missiles, which the Security Service of Ukraine and the Navy jointly used in the next stage.
“A fire has been confirmed in the area of the facility, namely at the catalytic cracking unit ELOU-AVT-2.5,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement.
The attack on the refinery resulted in a large-scale fire. The video shows many sources of ignition over a large area. The ELOU-AVT-2.5 unit, which is designed to produce liquefied petroleum gases, was also damaged.
Preliminary information confirms that the joint operation by the SSU and the Navy caused significant damage to the company's production facilities.
“Today's special operation was carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles made in Ukraine,” said an informed source in the SSU.
Ukraine has been attacking Russian refineries and oil depots with drones since early 2024. This is done to reduce Russia's military potential.
The Novoshakhtinsk refinery was attacked on the night of December 20. According to the head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, Andrii Kovalenko, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery plays an important role in the Russian defense industry. The proximity of the plant to the border with Ukraine makes it important for Russians in terms of logistics.
