SAMARA, RUSSIA – Two oil refineries in the Samara region became the target of Ukrainian drone strikes, as confirmed by the local governor. These attacks, occurring over 500 miles southeast of Moscow, have raised concerns about the impact on energy prices in the region.
Governor Dmitry Azarov of Samara reported the strikes on Saturday, targeting facilities owned by the state-run energy company Rosneft. The attacks resulted in a fire at one of the sites. Despite the incidents, there were no immediate reports of injuries. Unverified footage circulating on Telegram showed a blaze at the Syzran refinery.
In a separate incident, drones also attacked the Novokuibyshevsk refinery, causing a fire that was eventually extinguished. This follows a recent drone strike on the Perviy Zavod oil refinery near Kaluga, reportedly carried out by the Ukrainian intelligence directorate.
The series of drone strikes have not been limited to the Samara region. Refineries in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Leningrad, Oryol, and Rostov regions have also been targeted, resulting in disruptions to Russia’s oil-processing capacity. Bloomberg reported that the recent attacks have forced refineries to suspend operations, leading to a rise in gasoline prices due to supply and demand concerns.
The escalation of drone strikes comes at a crucial time as Russians participate in a highly anticipated presidential election. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to secure a victory comfortably amid the ongoing attacks on critical infrastructure facilities. The impact of these strikes on energy prices and supply chain stability remains a pressing concern for both Russia and Ukraine in the midst of escalating tensions.