Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has confirmed a joint operation between SBU and Ukrainian Naval Forces attacked Russia’s Novoshakhtinsky Oil Refinery in Rostov Region. The attack, which occurred on December 19, was part of a broader wave of strikes targeting several areas in the region.
According to sources, SBU drones overwhelmed Russian air defense systems, creating a “window of opportunity” for Ukrainian jet-powered missiles to strike the refinery. The attack triggered a large-scale fire, with the ELOU-AVT-2.5 unit reportedly hit.
Preliminary assessments indicate substantial damage to the refinery’s production facilities. The attack demonstrated the effectiveness and power of Ukrainian weaponry, according to a source within SBU.
This is not the first time the refinery has been targeted; similar incidents have occurred in June and March due to drone strikes. The Dec. 19 attack was part of a broader wave of strikes that impacted operations, with idle refining capacity in Russia surging to 2.7 million tons in November.
Source: https://www.kyivpost.com/post/44138