Ukraine has once again launched a massive drone offensive. The Kirishi oil refinery caught massive fire after being hit. Kirishi refines about 17.7 million metric tons per year (355,000 barrels per day) of Russian crude. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, praised Kyiv’s military and special services for the string of long-range attacks. Russia remains the world’s second largest oil exporter.
MOSCOW SEPTEMBER 15: Ukraine has once again launched a massive drone offensive deep inside Russian territory. In one of the largest overnight assaults of the war, Kyiv deployed at least 361 drones against Russia.
The Kirishi oil refinery, one of Russia’s biggest energy hubs in the northwest, caught massive fire after being hit. Kirishi refines about 17.7 million metric tons per year (355,000 barrels per day) of Russian crude, or 6.4% of the country’s total. Ukraine’s drone command declared the refinery attack a “successful strike.” The attack aimed to weaken Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter .Russia’s defence ministry said at least 361 drones had been shot down by Russian air defence systems.
The drones struck the oil refineries overnight into Sunday, causing explosions and sparking a fire, according to both Ukraine’s military and Russian officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking in his nightly video address, praised Kyiv’s military and special services for the string of long-range attacks on Russian oil installations.
Russia remains the world’s second largest oil exporter, but a seasonal rise in demand and sustained Ukrainian drone strikes have caused gasoline shortages in recent weeks. To try to ease the shortage, Russia has paused gasoline exports.
