Ukrainian Drone strike Hits Kirishi Oil Refinery, One of Russia’s Largest
Table of Contents
Ukrainian drones targeted the Kirishi oil refinery in Russia’s Leningrad region on September 14, 2024, causing a fire that has since been extinguished.This attack on a major Russian oil processing facility is part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to disrupt Russia’s energy sector and war efforts. The Kirishi refinery, known as Kirishineftegsintez or kinef, is one of the two largest in Russia by volume, processing approximately 17.7 million tons of crude oil annually – roughly 6.4% of Russia’s total refining capacity [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-strikes-russian-oil-refinery-leningrad-region-governor-2024-09-14/].
Details of the Attack
According to Alexander Drozdenko, the governor of the Leningrad region, Russian air defenses intercepted three drones in the Kirishi area. However, debris from a downed drone impacted the refinery, igniting a fire. The fire was quickly contained, and no casualties were reported [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-strikes-russian-oil-refinery-leningrad-region-governor-2024-09-14/]. videos circulating on social media, reportedly from local residents and shared by the Russian opposition channel Astra, appear to show a significant explosion and flames at the refinery [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-strikes-russian-oil-refinery-leningrad-region-governor-2024-09-14/].
Strategic Importance of the Kirishi Refinery
The Kirishi refinery,operated by Surgutneftegaz,processes around 355,000 barrels of Russian crude oil per day. Its location is over 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, demonstrating Ukraine’s increasing reach with drone technology. This refinery, alongside the Ryazan refinery, represents a substantial portion of russia’s oil processing capabilities.
This is not the first time the Kirishi refinery has been targeted. Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) reported a previous attack on the facility in March 2024 [https://www.kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-russian-oil-refinery-in-leningrad-region/].
Recent Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Energy Infrastructure
The attack on Kirishi follows a recent strike on Primorsk, Russia’s largest oil port on the Baltic Sea, on the night of September 12, 2024. That attack reportedly caused a fire on one of the ships and damaged a pumping station,temporarily halting oil shipments [https://www.kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-russian-oil-refinery-in-leningrad-region/].
Over the past year, Ukrainian forces have intensified attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, leading to operational disruptions and fuel shortages within Russia. Ukraine views Russian oil refineries as legitimate military targets, arguing they provide crucial financial and logistical support for Russia’s war in Ukraine [https://www.kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-russian-oil-refinery-in-leningrad-region/].
key Takeaways
* Significant Target: The kirishi refinery is one of russia’s two largest, processing 6.4% of the country’s oil.
* Increased Range: The attack demonstrates Ukraine’s ability to strike targets deep within Russian territory.
* Strategic Disruption: Ukraine aims to degrade Russia’s oil production capacity to hinder its war effort.
* Escalating Attacks: Recent strikes on Primorsk and Kirishi indicate an intensification of Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Looking Ahead: Ukraine is likely to continue targeting Russian energy infrastructure as part of its broader strategy to weaken Russia’s ability to sustain its war in Ukraine. These attacks will likely continue to disrupt Russian oil production and perhaps impact global energy markets.