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Ukrainian Drone Attack Hits Russia's Second-Largest Oil Refinery

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World Desk

In Short: Governor Alexander Drozdenko of the Leningrad region reported that a Ukrainian drone attack on Monday set fire to the Kirishi oil refinery, which is Russia's second-largest.

Kyiv after Russian drone attack, 2022-10-17 (01).

Ukrainian Drones Reportedly Strike Russia’s Second-Largest Oil Refinery. EuropeNews

Governor Alexander Drozdenko of the Leningrad region reported that a Ukrainian drone attack on Monday set fire to the Kirishi oil refinery, which is Russia's second-largest. The attack occurred in the early hours of Monday, local time, and resulted in the death of a woman due to falling drone debris that struck a residential building.

The governor stated that the fire had been contained, and he earlier reported that air defense forces had downed 113 Ukrainian drones during the overnight attack. The incident highlights the intensifying drone warfare between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides stepping up their attacks on each other's critical infrastructure.

The Kirishi refinery, located in the northwestern Leningrad region, is a significant export outlet for grain and oil from Russia's Baltic Sea ports. The attack disrupted operations at nearly 30 major Russian oil refineries through precise long-range drone strikes, according to Ukrainian officials.

The incident occurred as Russia seeks to undermine Ukraine's resolve as winter sets in by targeting its power system. The attack on the Kirishi refinery is part of a broader strategy to weaken Ukraine's economic and military capabilities.

The attack on the Kirishi refinery is the latest in a series of strikes by Ukrainian forces on Russian oil infrastructure. On October 2, Ukrainian forces struck oil infrastructure in Russia's Volgograd and Samara oblasts, according to Ukraine's General Staff.

While the attack on the Kirishi refinery has been contained, it underscores the escalating conflict and the significant impact of drone warfare on both sides. The incident highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to such attacks and the broader strategic implications for both nations.

What this adds

What's confirmed

• Russia and Ukraine are stepping up drone attacks on each other, like the destroyed warehouse last week on the outskirts of Kyiv. ( AP: Danylo Antoniuk ) The Kirishi oil refinery in the Leningrad region, Russia's second-largest, was set on fire following a Ukrainian drone attack on the region on Monday, Governor Alexander Drozdenko said.
• The wider region is a major export outlet for grain and oil from Russia's Baltic Sea ports.
• Ukrainian drones hit the Kinef oil refinery in Kirishi, one of Russia’s largest, overnight on 9 November and started a fire, Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko said.
• The ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia had allowed humanitarian aid and evacuation missions into front-line areas in Russian-occupied territory.

What's still developing

• KYIV: Ukraine kept up its heavy drone assault on Russia, setting fire to a major oil refinery in the south and killing at least two people, Russian authorities said Sunday.
• Ukrainian forces reportedly struck an oil refinery in Yaroslavl and an electronics plant in Ulyanovsk, causing fires and damage, according to reports from Kyivindependent and APA.

Sources

• ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporationlink
• ASHARQ AL-AWSAT Englishlink
• BBClink
• Euromaidan Presslink
• Kyiv Postlink
• Latest news from Azerbaijanlink
• Modern Diplomacylink
• Spotmedia.rolink
• Al Jazeeralink
• DWlink
• Hpenewslink
• Wishtvlink
• Newindianexpresslink
• Latintimeslink
• Newsdaylink
• Kyivindependentlink
• EuropeNews — video link