Russians welcome New Year under drone strikes: oil depots on fire in Kaluga Oblast and Krasnodar Krai – photo, video
Several Russian regions came under drone attack on the night of 31 December-1 January. The strikes have caused fires at oil refineries in Kaluga Oblast and Krasnodar Krai.
Source: Russian Telegram channels; monitoring Telegram channels; Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin
Details: Local residents posted videos showing a glow in the night sky and large-scale fires in industrial zones where Russian facilities are located.
Reports of direct hits came from the town of Lyudinovo in Kaluga Oblast, where a local oil storage facility was struck. Footage posted online shows a tall column of fire and smoke rising above the scene. Local authorities have not commented on the extent of the damage, but Telegram channels said the fire was preceded by the distinctive sound of drone engines and explosions.
The night was also tense in Krasnodar Krai. The Ilsky oil refinery was attacked. This facility has been hit by drones several times in the past.
Russia's capital was also targeted. Sobyanin reported on the Russian air defence's response throughout the night. As usual, he claimed that drones had been downed, but Russian officials typically withhold or significantly downplay information about the exact number of drones and any damage on the ground caused by falling debris.
Ukraine's defence forces have been systematically striking oil refineries and fuel depots on Russian territory. These sites are considered legitimate military targets, as they supply fuel to Russian forces, while revenues from oil product exports help fill the Russian budget and finance the war against Ukraine.
The Ilsky refinery was previously attacked, leading to temporary shutdowns of its operations.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly stressed that Ukraine will respond to Russian terror by striking the "pressure points" of Russian economy and logistics.
Updated: The Russian Defence Ministry claimed on the morning of 1 January that its air defence systems had destroyed 168 drones overnight.
For reference:
- The Ilsky Oil Refinery (KNGK-INPZ LLC) is one of the key oil processing facilities in Russia's Southern Federal District. It has a capacity of more than six million tonnes of oil per year. The refinery produces diesel fuel, petrol and fuel oil, which, due to its proximity to Black Sea ports, are actively used to support logistics for Russian forces in Ukraine.
- The Lyudinovo oil depot (Kaluganaftoprodukt JSC) is part of the Rosneft structure and serves as a logistics hub supplying units of the Russian Armed Forces directly involved in the war against Ukraine.
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