Ukrainian Drone Swarms Target Four Russian Refineries In Major Attack
Brent crude futures were flat on Friday amid rising geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe, which seems counterintuitive as escalating war risks could result in supply disruptions.
In the overnight hours, four refineries in southern Russia were targeted, with one facility damaged, in one of the largest drone swarm attacks since the war in Ukraine began, Bloomberg reports.
Seventy drones were intercepted and destroyed over Crimea and the Black Sea and 43 over the Krasnodar region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram, without saying how many drones took part in the attack. The Afipsky, Ilsky, Krasnodar and Astrakhan refineries were attacked, Ukraine's General Staff said later in a Facebook post.
In the Seversky district of the Krasnodar region, where the Afipsky and Ilsky refineries are located, "administrative buildings were damaged on the territory of an oil refinery" as a result of the attack, local governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram. Interfax earlier reported that a fire affecting area of 50 square meters (538 square feet) was extinguished by morning, with two people injured. -BBG
Ukraine's military claimed responsibility for the drone swarm attack, saying it launched drones against "the Afipskiy, Ilskiy, Krasnodar and Astrakhan oil refineries." They also said an intelligence center in southern Russia was targeted.
Drones also targeted a "preparation and storage area" in the Krasnodar region, resulting in a "series of explosions and a fire with subsequent detonation," Ukraine said.
More than two years since the war began, Ukraine is ramping up cross-border drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure as conflict spillover risks soar. Kyiv and its Western backers aim to paralyze one of Russia's most important industries: oil refining.
In recent days, Ukrainian drone attacks have damaged several oil storage facilities. Last month, two other refineries in southern Russia, including Rosneft's large Tuapse facility on the Black Sea, were targeted.
In March, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said oil refineries in Russia are "absolutely legitimate targets" from a military point of view.
Recall that the Biden administration has freaked out about Ukrainian drone strikes in Russia. This was primarily because of the risk of driving Brent crude prices north of $100/bbl. However, in recent weeks, Biden 'greenlighted' Ukraine to attack deep within Russia with US weapons.
In markets, Brent crude prices headed for the first back-to-back weekly gain since early April. Prices are ending the week around the $85/bbl handle. Escalating conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East reflect a higher war risk premium that should be added to Brent crude prices.
Putin has to have the patience of JOB to not wipe Zelensky and his hordes off the face of the earth.
I watched the video from the article, it is hard to tell if the explosion was at a refinery. I see an apartment building right next door to the explosion. Would they build an apartment building next to a refinery or vice versa?
If patriots are in control, I highly doubt we would provide Ukraine with the means to attack a USA alliance in this war against evil.
Driving up the price of oil using fake news may be the agenda here. Creating instances that limits oil imports to Europe/NATO nations. Pushing us closer to the precipice by driving up the price of gasoline around the planet. People have to get angry before they "change and break free from the system of control."
Stories like this have to be pushed mainstream so people can see this Ukraine war is not fixing anything and is in fact making things worse. Sleepy Joe funding the war as gas prices skyrocket, people will only take so much before they breakdown and see the truth.