Ukrainian Drones Strike Key Russian Oil Facilities in Krasnodar Region
On the night of February 16 to 17, 2025, Ukrainian drones, operated by the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, targeted two crucial Russian enterprises involved in the military-industrial complex. These enterprises, the Ilya Oil Refinery and the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station, play vital roles in supporting Russia’s ongoing war efforts.
The attack on the Ilya Oil Refinery, located in the Krasnodar region, resulted in at least 20 explosions, followed by a fire that was confirmed by local authorities. The refinery, which has six oil refining units with a combined capacity of 6.6 million tons per year, had already been struck by Ukrainian drones in February 2024. During that attack, a primary oil refining unit valued at $50 million was damaged. The recent attack further disrupted the refinery’s operations, dealing a significant blow to the Russian energy sector and its military supply chains.
The second target of the drone strike was the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station, the largest of its kind in Russia and a key part of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. This facility is essential for pumping oil across Russia, and the attack resulted in its immediate shutdown and decommissioning. As a result, oil is now being redirected to bypass the station, temporarily halting its operations and impacting Russia’s oil distribution network.
Both of these targets are crucial not only for Russia’s defence operations but also for its economy, which relies heavily on oil profits to finance its military activities. Ukrainian officials have emphasised that these oil facilities are legitimate military targets, given their direct support for Russia’s war machine.
The SBU and the Armed Forces of Ukraine have made it clear that further drone operations against such key infrastructure will continue, aiming to disrupt the Russian war effort by targeting its economic and military resources.
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