Drones attack Russian oil refineries near major oil port Novorossiisk

[Wicked Blue]

Source: Reuters

MOSCOW, May 31 (Reuters) - Drones attacked two oil refineries just 40-50 miles (65-80 km) east of Russia's biggest oil export terminals on Wednesday, sparking a fire at one and causing no damage to the other, according to Russian officials.

Drone attacks deep inside Russia have intensified in recent weeks with strikes on Moscow, oil pipelines and even the Kremlin ahead of a Ukrainian counter-offensive.

At around 0100 GMT a drone struck the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region, causing a fire which was later extinguished, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said.

The Afipsky refinery lies 50 miles east of the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, one of Russia's most important oil export gateways. The plant can process around 6 million tonnes (44 million barrels) of oil each year.



Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/fire-oil-refinery-russias-krasnodar-likely-caused-by-drone-governor-2023-05-31/

[flying_wahini]

1. Oh goodie!

Hit them where it hurts.

[Texin]

2. I was reading yesterday that some are stating that these drone attacks are

false flag ops staged by Putin operatives to gin up morale within the Russian populace to bolster a coming major counteroffensive on Ukraine. I don't remember where I saw the article (maybe Raw Story), but based on things I've been reading, they don't have the wherewithal to be able to support that kind of tactic. I was watching a bit on MSNBC yesterday morning by a former US general or someone within the DD, that even as Russia has taken many military hits in the last year plus, it is still huge enough to be able to endure over the long haul - far beyond Ukraine's capabilities.

I hope that isn't true.

[Effete Snob]

3. "it is still huge enough to be able to endure over the long haul - far beyond Ukraine's capabilities

They didn't defeat the Germans on the eastern front by having superior weapons or tactics.

[McKim]

4. So this moves from Proxie war to Open War!

So this moves from Proxie War to Open War. This scares me! Helping Ukraine is one thing, but this is quite dangerous and escalates.

[EX500rider]

7. So Russia can do all the attacking they want inside Ukraine but Ukr can't strike back?

Personally I think it's a very good idea tactically right before they launch their offensive forcing Russia to disperse a lot of their anti-air assets back to the Homeland instead of the front

[IronLionZion]

6. It could be Russian saboteurs inside Russia

since Ukraine has not taken responsibility for the attack. It's pretty deep into Russian territory so I'm doubtful Ukraine has the ability to hit that far inside.