Fire reported at Russia's Syzran oil refinery

[GregariousGroundhog]

Source: The Kyiv Independent

The governor of Russia's Samara Oblast reported on March 16 that two Rosneft oil refineries in the area were targeted by Ukrainian drones, resulting in no casualties but leaving one facility on fire.

Ukraine has launched a concerted effort to degrade Russia’s oil production capabilities, targeting refineries across the country. Earlier this week, oil refineries were attacked in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Leningrad oblasts.

The facilities hit by Ukrainian drones in the past days account for about 12% of Russia’s oil-processing capacity, Bloomberg reported.

The Volga River region's Syzran refinery was on fire, but an attack on the Novokuibyshevsk refinery had been thwarted, regional governor Dmitry Azarov said via Telegram on March 16. There were no casualties, according to him. The Russian city of Samara is located around 850 kilometers southeast of Moscow.

Read more: https://kyivindependent.com/fire-reported-at-russias-syzran-oil-refinery/

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A quick Google search reveals that the Syzran refinery can process about 170,000 barrels of oil per day. If Ukraine keeps hitting refineries at the clip they have been for the last two months, Russia is going to end up being an importer of gasoline and diesel. The last week has in particular have been bad for the Russian oil refiners.

[unc70]

1. Those are really long range attacks

It is a long ways from anywhere in Ukraine to these refineries. Something like 600-800 miles.

[erronis]

3. Yup - may be done by launchers well within Russia's borders

The more of those that occur, the weaker we know Putin's defenses are.

[cstanleytech]

2. This entire war is about the oil and gas as Putin wants to build a pipeline thru Ukraine and Moldova but he doesn't

want to pay them anything to do it.

[erronis]

4. I'm guessing he's giving up on this and just trying to save his own ass.

After Ukraine showed how weak the rump-USSR really is, I think putin is not going to spend a lot of resources building vulnerable pipelines.

Of course, if the US (R)epuglicons sabotage any effort to help Ukraine and let it fall into russia's hands, then we can expect putin to expand his outright control of neighboring states quickly.

[Mister Ed]

5. Much more than just that.

Ukraine has the richest, most productive farmland anywhere in Europe or Russia. I've read that it's rich in rare minerals that are in great demand in the tech age. And, of course, its ports on the Black Sea can be valuable to the Russian Navy. For all of those reasons and more, Putin wants to annex Ukraine.

[Postal Grunt]

6. It's all about the money

The areas of Ukraine that Putin is most interested in could be a very profitable chunk of real estate if the US and its allies fail to support Ukraine. Besides the fertile agricultural areas and ports located on the Black Sea, there are coal, oil, and gas deposits. Oftentimes where there are natural gas deposits, there is helium to be found. Helium is very much in demand for chip production. Then there's the fact that Ukraine has about 50% of the world's known titanium deposits. Titanium is needed in the construction of modern aircraft. Putin, at 70 YO, may not live to see the clearance of all the mines and unexploded ordinance from the territory he wishes to seize, but if Russia does become the new landlord, there will be exploitation of the natural resources.

[cstanleytech]

7. Thats only a bonus. The #1 reason is the pipeline as he has troops invade Moldova before the attack on Ukraine.

[orangecrush]

8. Kick