Kernel oilseed processing company reports overnight Russian strike on its plant
Kernel has reported that Russian forces struck the Illichivsk Oil and Fat Plant in Chornomorsk on the night of 24–25 December.
Source: a statement on the Kernel website
Details: The statement says Kernel's assets in Odesa Oblast came under attack by the Russian Federation on the night of 24-25 December. The Illichivsk Oil and Fat Plant (IOFP) – one of Ukraine's agricultural processing facilities located in the city of Chornomorsk – was hit.
A drone strike damaged a tank containing vegetable oil, which led to a large-scale fire and an oil leak.
The fire spread across the facility's production capacities, creating a serious threat to infrastructure and personnel. Drone debris also damaged part of the production block.
"Work is currently underway to deal with the aftermath and assess the damage, including specifying the volume of oil lost. Fortunately, none of the employees were injured," the company said.
"This attack has been the latest in a series of targeted Russian strikes on Odesa Oblast's port and oil-processing infrastructure over recent weeks. At least nine people have been killed and dozens injured in the strikes," the statement reads.
"Facilities for storage, transshipment and processing of agricultural products have come under attack, including terminals for vegetable oils and port infrastructure, including assets of companies in the agro-industrial sector," Kernel said.
The attacks have led to the destruction and loss of thousands of tonnes of products, large-scale fires involving food cargoes – flour and oil – and have created serious environmental risks for the Black Sea waters.
Taken together, these strikes indicate a systematic and deliberate campaign to destroy Ukraine's food and export infrastructure, the company said.
The Russian Federation is deliberately targeting facilities that ensure the production, storage and export of agricultural products, seeking to inflict maximum damage on Ukraine's processing sector and creating risks for international logistics, the environment and supply stability in dozens of countries worldwide.
Background:
- On the night of 24-25 December, Russian forces once again attacked port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast, including facilities in Chornomorsk and on the territory of one of the port terminals.
- It was previously reported that Kernel planned to complete the reconstruction of the Transbaltterminal at Chornomorsk port in October, after it was damaged in a Russian attack in 2023.
- As a result of large-scale attacks in recent days on the infrastructure of Pivdennyi port (north of Odesa), a vegetable oil spill occurred in the port's waters on 24 December, which was temporarily closed until the spill response was fully completed.
- It was previously reported that Ukraine's largest port, Pivdennyi, is open for vessels to enter and leave. Work in its waters is being carried out in compliance with all safety measures.
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