Ukrainian drones struck the Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez refinery, one of Russia's main oil processing facilities, and also a military airfield in the Volgograd region
Ukraine launched a new offensive on Friday with long-range drones against strategic targets within Russian territory, with attacks on a major oil refinery in the Perm region and a military airfield located in Volgograd. The operation once again demonstrates Kiev's ability to reach facilities located hundreds of kilometers from the front.
The main target was the Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez refinery, located in the city of Perm, in the European part of Russia and west of the Ural Mountains. The complex is located more than 1,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The Russian refinery Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez after the Ukrainian attack
The General Staff of Ukraine confirmed the attack and stated that there was a fire within the facilities. Russian authorities also reported a drone offensive in the region and claimed that their air defense systems had intervened to repel it.
The attacked refinery is considered an energy facility of strategic importance. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, it has a processing capacity of over 13 million tons of oil per year, so any prolonged interruption of its operations could affect Russia's ability to produce fuels.
The offensive also targeted a military airfield in the Volgograd region, in southern Russia. The Ukrainian General Staff included this facility among the targets attacked during the operation, although no public information has yet been released regarding the extent of the damage caused.
The attack is part of an increasingly intense Ukrainian campaign against Russian energy and military infrastructure. Kiev aims to reduce Moscow's capacity to produce and distribute fuel, as well as to affect facilities used to sustain military operations.
Attacks on Russian refineries have increased during August. A refinery located in Orsk, in the Orenburg region, was completely shut down after another Ukrainian attack, and Russian authorities estimated that repairs could take up to six months.
Ukrainian soldiers with a military drone
The new operation also comes at a time when Russia is facing difficulties in the internal supply of fuels. Attacks on several refineries have reduced processing capacity and caused restrictions and long lines at gas stations in various regions of the country.
With the attack on Perm and the Volgograd airfield, Ukraine once again demonstrates that its long-range operations can reach strategic targets located far from the front, increasing pressure on Russian energy and military infrastructure.
