A Ukrainian drone has smashed a Russian oil refinery as Kyiv ramps up efforts to see off Vladimir Putin.
The pilotless device struck Russia’s third-largest oil refinery on Tuesday, hitting a unit of around 155,000 barrels of crude per day.
However, a source said the aerial strike caused no critical damage.
A Ukrainian intelligence source claimed the primary refining unit in Tatarstan region caused a fire.
A Ukrainian drone has smashed a Russian oil refinery as Kyiv ramps up efforts to see off Vladimir Putin
REUTERS
The attack is reportedly intended to reduce Russia’s oil revenue.
Russian officials confirmed jamming devices locked onto a Ukrainian drone near Tatneft's TATNMM Taneco refinery.
Images from the scene showed the drone hitting the primary refining unit but not causing serious damage.
Russian state news agency RIA said the blaze was extinguished within 20 minutes.
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Vladimir Putin has suffered from Ukraine targeting Russian refineries
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Brent LCOc1 briefly rose above $89 a barrel for the first time since October amid concern over the Ukrainian drone attacks and the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not specifically address the attack but stressed the significance of Kyiv’s targeted onslaught.
He said: “Equally important is that the Russian terrorists are receiving responses to their strikes.”
Ukrainian strikes have reportedly shut down 14 per cent of Russia’s refining capacity.
Kyiv’s attack yesterday also hit Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk, regional governor Rustam Minnikhanov said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken about the need for drone strikes
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At least seven people were left injured after a strike hit a dormitory on the territory of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone.
Zelensky is also increasing efforts to take on Putin’s troops by dropping the mobilisation age for combat duty from 27 to 25.
The Ukrainian leader said in December that the military had proposed mobilising up to 500,000 more Ukrainians into the armed forces.
Oleksandr Syrskyi, the new head of the Ukrainian armed forces said last week that the figure was no longer up-to-date and that it had been “significantly reduced” after a review of resources.
The decision comes as Ukrainian troops suffered setbacks on the battlefield and Kyiv faces a shortage of ammunition supplies.