Ukraine claimed responsibility for a drone strike on Saturday targeting one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, located over 700 miles inside Russian territory. The Taneco refinery in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, is one of the country’s most modern and key suppliers of fuel to the Russian military.
According to Lieutenant Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, the attack was the second time the facility had been hit by Ukrainian forces within a year. The refinery has a capacity of over 16 million tons of oil per year and plays a crucial role in supplying fuel to Russia’s military.
The attack comes as Ukraine seeks to disrupt Russia’s ability to wage an intense war effort. In April last year, Ukraine also targeted the Shahed drone assembly factory in Tatarstan, damaging one of the country’s largest oil refineries.
Social media images from the scene show massive flames and smoke, but the Russian authorities have denied there was a fire at the facility, claiming it was a safety exercise. However, Ukrainian officials say the destruction of key infrastructure such as refineries will directly impact Russia’s military capabilities.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/11/europe/index.html