Ukrainian Drone Strikes Disrupt Russian Oil Industry

Ukraine struck oil facilities deep inside Russia overnight Tuesday, expanding a campaign of drone attacks on refineries and other petroleum infrastructure that aims to disrupt fuel supplies to the front line and damage Moscow’s most important export industry.

One of the drone attacks hit a large refinery operated by Lukoil, Russia’s second-biggest oil company, in the Nizhny Novgorod region, some 600 miles from the Ukrainian border. The strike caused a fire that spread thick black smoke over the morning sky, according to local authorities and images on social media.

Another drone hit near the town of Kirishi not far from St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city, and home to a large refinery. A third attack struck oil-storage tanks in Oryol, a region near the Ukrainian border, authorities said.The drone attacks demonstrate Ukraine’s ability to strike critical infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. Along with several similar attacks on oil facilities in recent weeks, the energy attacks have caused damage severe enough to prompt monthslong repairs and required Russia to ban gasoline exports to preserve domestic supply.

The drone attacks demonstrate Ukraine’s ability to strike critical infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. Along with several similar attacks on oil facilities in recent weeks, the energy attacks have caused damage severe enough to prompt monthslong repairs and required Russia to ban gasoline exports to preserve domestic supply.