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Drones operated by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) attacked the Ryazan Oil Refinery overnight on May 1, Suspilne and Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing their undisclosed military intelligence sources.
Ukrainian military intelligence drones also allegedly targeted another oil refinery in Russia’s Voronezh Oblast, Ukrainian Pravda and Ukrinform‘s sources alleged.
Russian authorities reported on drone strikes against the two oblasts earlier on May 1, with claims being spread on the Russian Telegram channels that the Ryazan refinery was on fire.
The claims could not be independently verified. The Kyiv Independent has reached out to the military intelligence agency for comment but has not received a response at the time of publication.
The full consequences of the purported attacks are being determined.
Ukrainian forces have recently launched a series of drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia’s oil industry. Attacks against oil depots in Russia’s Smolensk Oblast last week destroyed 26,000 cubic meters of fuelsecurity sources told the Kyiv Independent.
The strikes have prompted criticism from US officialswho have made it clear that Washington does not support Ukraine’s targeting of oil refineries, citing fears that it could threatens the global energy market.
Ukraine retorts that it considers Russian refineries to be legitimate military targets.
Ukrainian drones hit one Russian oil refinery after another
Ukraine faces a challenging problem: how to stop a resurgent Moscow in its tracks long enough to rotate the troops, resupply, and fortify. Part of the answer is playing out right now in the skies over Russia. Over the past two weeks, at least dozens of Ukrainian drones reportedly struck
