Ukraine has conducted a drone strike targeting a major Russian oil refinery for the second time in a week.
Kyiv targeted an oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod, in western Russia, in an attack overnight on January 28 through 29, according to the Kyiv Independent.
Reuters reported that Ukraine also struck the Ryazan oil refinery last week, and Russia retaliated against the two oil refinery strikes by launching drones to hit various cities across Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Ukraine has repeatedly struck Russian oil facilities to bankrupt Moscow’s ability to continue funding the war. Kyiv’s strikes damaging the oil production and processing facilities also injure Russia’s economy, as oil is one of Moscow’s key exports. In 2024, Ukraine conducted more than 80 drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and depots, and Russia’s average daily production of crude oil dropped to a new low not seen in 20 years.
What To Know
Ukraine struck an oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod operated by the Russian oil giant Lukoil with four drones, causing a fire to break out. The Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez refinery, also known as the LUKOIL-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez refinery, is in Kstovo and was previously the target of a Ukrainian strike in March 2024, which resulted in a 21.8 percent drop in production of 3.4 million metric tons.
Gleb Nikitin, the governor of Nizhny Novgorod, wrote on Telegram that there were no casualties from the drone strike. He said, however: “As a result of repelling a UAV attack, fragments of the drone fell onto the territory of one of the enterprises of the Kstovskaya industrial zone. Firefighters are currently working to extinguish the fire.”
Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, stressed the importance of the drone strike on the oil refinery located approximately 800 miles from Ukraine’s border in a post on Telegram. He said: “The refinery in Kstovo, through which it arrived, is capable of processing from 15 to 17 million tons of oil per year. It can be called the fourth largest in Russia. It produces gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, bitumen. It is important for the Russian army.”
Ukraine also struck the Ryazan oil refinery, a Rosneft facility that happens to be one of the country’s largest crude-processing facilities on January 24. After the drone attack, the refinery announced that it would be suspending operations, as the oil storage caught fire, and equipment was damaged.
The Ryazan oil refinery, located in southwestern Russia, processed 13.1 million metric tons (262,000 barrels per day) of oil in 2024, which is approximately 5 percent of Russia’s total refining output.
In response to Kyiv’s oil refinery attacks, Russia launched more than 70 drones at Ukraine on the evening of January 29. 37 Shahed drones shot down across oblasts including Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Odesa, and 39 enemy simulator drones were lost.
The drones struck industrial enterprises, apartment buildings, and vehicles, and resulted in casualties, with nine people injured and four killed in Sumy according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
What People Are Saying
Describing the strike on the oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Facebook: “Units of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces, struck the Nizhny Novgorod Oil Refinery (Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Russia) on the night of January 29, 2025. This refinery is involved in supplying the Russian occupation army. After the UAV strike, a massive fire was recorded on the site.
“The results and extent of the damage are being determined. Combat operations at strategic facilities involved in ensuring the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine will continue. Next will be … Glory to Ukraine!”
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Zelensky wrote: “Last night, Russia launched a ‘Shahed’ strike on Sumy, targeting an ordinary residential apartment building. Four people were killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Nine others were wounded, including a child. Rescue operations are still ongoing, with rubble being cleared and assistance provided to those in need.
“This is a horrific tragedy, a heinous Russian crime. It is crucial that the world does not pause in putting pressure on Russia for this terror. I am grateful to all the leaders who speak out in support of Ukraine and Ukrainians.”
What Happens Next
It is unknown at this time how quickly Russia will be able to repair the damaged oil facilities before the interruption in processing and production affects their economy.
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