Ukrainian drone attacks have disrupted operations at three oil refineries deep within Russian territory, in an assault that President Vladimir Putin claims was intended to disrupt his upcoming presidential election. An aerial strike on Wednesday caused a fire at Rosneft PJSC’s Ryazan plant near Moscow, one of the country’s largest crude-processing facilities. Additionally, the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in the southern Rostov region was also halted by a drone attack, further adding to the disruption caused by a similar incident at Lukoil PJSC’s Norsi plant on Tuesday. Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has utilized drones to target significant Russian oil facilities spanning from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea. As the tide of battle shifts in Moscow’s favor, Kyiv has been aiming to impede Russia’s oil-product exports and its ability to supply fuel to its forces. While an initial wave of attacks in February impacted nearly a fifth of the country’s crude-processing capacity, the industry had begun to recover by early March. Putin stated in an interview with the RIA Novosti news service published on Wednesday that Ukrainian strikes in Russian regions are intended to disrupt, if not frustrate, the elections in Russia and interfere with them. He also mentioned that another goal is to gain leverage in potential negotiation processes.
Ukraine strikes oil refineries deep inside Russian territory, as Kyiv intensifies drone attacks
