Ukraine has struck one of Russia’s largest oil refineries in another attempt to undermine Moscow’s energy infrastructure. The drones belonging to Ukraine’s Special Forces, SBU crashed the UNPZ oil refinery in Ufa, the capital or Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan, Ukrainian media reported on Saturday.
Videos shared on Telegram app appeared to show the strikes on the Bashneft-UNPZ oil refinery is located 1,400 kilometers from Ukraine. Being one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, Bashneft-UNPZ produces 6 million tons of crude oil annually and supplies fuel and lubricants for the country’s military forces.
The SBU claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that this is already the third deep strike by the SBU in Bashkortostan over the past month -1,400 kilometers from Ukraine. “Such operations show that there are no safe zones deep inside Russia. The SBU can reach any facility contributing to the war effort against Ukraine,” the statement reads. According to preliminary reports, fire has broke out near the ELOU-AVT-6 crude oil processing unit. The Kremlin has not officially commented on the attack on the oil refinery in Ufa, however the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that five drones were destroyed over the territory of the Republic of Bashkortostan between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. today.
Earlier, Ukrainian forces struck Korobkovsky Gas Processing Plant owned by Lukoil and the Yefimovka oil pumping station in Russia’s Volgobrad region 500 km from the Ukraine frontline. Ukraine’s drone attacks at Russia’s energy facilities in the past few months, have knocked around 40% of its oil refining capacity offline, plunging Moscow into deep fuel crisis.
