Ukrainian Drones Strike Major Oil Refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, HUR Source Claims
On July 7, Ukrainian long-range drones launched an attack on the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, according to a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR). The strike targeted one of the facility’s technological workshops, causing damage to this major facility, which is among the largest in southern Russia and produces over 6 million tons of fuel annually. The refinery, which is involved in the reception, storage, and processing of hydrocarbons, plays a critical role in Russia’s military-industrial complex and has been a key target in Kyiv’s efforts to undermine Moscow’s war effort.
The attack is part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Following a months-long pause since March, Kyiv has resumed attacks on energy facilities, including the Saratovorgsintez refinery in Saratov Oblast on July 1. Ukrainian forces have targeted dozens of refineries, oil depots, and military-industrial sites since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, with winter drone attacks forcing at least four Russian refineries to temporarily shut down.
This is not the first strike on the Ilsky refinery, as Ukrainian drones, operated by the Security Service (SBU) and Special Operations Forces (SSO), previously targeted the facility on February 17, causing a fire. The refinery is also strategically located in Krasnodar Krai, a region along Russia’s Black Sea coast that has increasingly become a focus of Ukrainian drone attacks as Kyiv extends the range of its strikes deep into Russian territory.