Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, working with other elements of the Ukrainian Forces, struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Saratov region overnight, Ukraine’s General Staff said. Explosions and a fire were reported near the facility, and the extent of the damage is still being assessed.
“The Saratov refinery specializes in producing gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, various grades of bitumen, vacuum gas oil, technical sulfur, and more — over 20 types of petroleum products in total,” the General Staff said.
The General Staff added that the refinery processed 4.8 million tons in 2023 and supplies Russia’s armed forces.
“Ukraine’s Defense Forces are systematically taking steps to degrade the Russian Federation’s military-economic potential - including its ability to supply occupying troops with fuel, ammunition and weapons - with the goal of ending the armed aggression against Ukraine. More to come,” the statement said.
In late August, media reports said Ukrainian attacks on 10 Russian refineries disrupted at least 17% of Russia’s refining capacity, or 1.1 million barrels per day. The strikes disrupted processing and exports of Russian oil, caused gasoline shortages in parts of Russia, and came in response to Moscow’s battlefield advances and its attacks on Ukraine’s gas and energy infrastructure.
