Ukrainian forces launched an attack on Rosneft PJSC’s refinery in Russia’s Saratov overnight. They continue targeted strikes on Russia’s fuel production facilities. The General Staff of Ukraine’s military confirmed the attack led to a fire at the site. They shared this via a Telegram message. Alongside the refinery strike, Ukraine attacked the Engels airfield in the same region. The military highlighted the base’s importance as a key hub for Russian warplanes. This includes the Tu-95 bomber. It has been used for long-range missile attacks on Ukrainian targets. Regional authorities reported damage to civilian infrastructure in both Saratov and Engels. They included a death toll of two people. The strike occurred amid regional fuel stations adjusting gasoline and diesel sale limits. This came after a brief period of shortages.
Damage and casualties in Saratov
The Saratov refinery has a design capacity of processing about 140,000 barrels of crude oil each day. It had previously been hit on July 8 and had since resumed operations. The facility now faces renewed fire following the most recent strike. The Saratov attack is part of a broader pattern. It shows intensified Ukrainian efforts to target Russia’s energy infrastructure. The region saw a brief lull in attacks over the previous weeks. The final days of July saw a resurgence in strikes. Ukrainian forces targeted refineries located far from the nations’ border.
Ukraine’s wider offensive in July
Ukrainian forces intensified their strikes in late July. They targeted refineries in Volgograd, Ufa, and now Saratov. The Volgograd refinery, one of Russia’s largest, was hit on Friday. This led to temporary fuel rationing in the region. Regional authorities reported this by Lukoil PJSC and Gazprom PJSC. Earlier that week, Ufa in Russia’s Bashkortostan republic was attacked. This targeted three Bashneft refineries. On Sunday, another massive drone attack struck industrial facilities in Ufa. This caused a fire at an industrial area. Radiy Khabirov, the head of Bashkortostan, reported this. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukrainian forces attacked an oil depot in Russia’s Kaluga region. They also targeted a drone storage facility in the Bryansk region. Their aim was to further disrupt Russian logistics.
NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System captured images of the Saratov refinery on Sunday, showing fresh heat anomalies that may indicate active fires. These developments have raised concerns about potential disruptions in Russia’s fuel supply, which had already been under stress from regional gasoline and diesel shortages. The Saratov refinery, once operational after being hit on July 8, is now under another wave of attacks. Rosneft did not immediately respond to a Bloomberg request for comment.
Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant claims
In another development, Russia claimed that a Ukrainian drone struck the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant overnight, hitting a passageway near the reactor compartment of the third unit. Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, confirmed the attack in a statement shared by the organization’s Telegram channel, noting there was no explosion. Likhachev expressed hope that Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, would visit the Zaporizhzhia plant soon. Grossi has made several visits since Russia seized the plant in 2022. On Saturday, the plant lost off-site power for the 23rd time since Russia’s invasion, with emergency diesel generators taking over to maintain reactor cooling and safety operations.
The IAEA has not commented on Likhachev’s claims. His claims remain unverified. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy highlighted a growing threat from Russia. He stated Russian enterprises not yet sanctioned by Western nations are stepping up production. They are producing drones, missiles, and guided aerial bombs. He emphasized the need to maintain pressure on every segment of Russia’s defense-industrial complex. He stated, “The aggressor is investing more and more in its ballistic weapons capability. It is trying to ramp up production.”
With intensified attacks on Russian infrastructure, the impact on fuel supply and military logistics remains a key concern. Ukraine’s ability to target and disrupt these systems is being watched closely, as both sides continue their efforts to gain the upper hand in the ongoing conflict.