In the early hours of May 31, Ukrainian defense units successfully struck the Saratov Oil Refinery, a significant facility in Russia’s Volga region, according to reports from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Saratov refinery is part of the Rosneft oil company and has an annual processing capacity of approximately 7 million tons of crude oil. It produces various fuels, including gasoline and diesel, which are crucial for supporting Russian military logistics.
Additionally, the Ukrainian military reported damage to the Lazerovo linear production and dispatch station in Russia’s Kirov region, which is responsible for transporting crude oil via the Surgut-Gorky-Polotsk pipeline.
Other targets included a fuel and lubricants storage facility in Matveyev Kurgan, Rostov region, a command and observation post in Begoshcha, Kursk region, and drone control points in Kalynove, Donetsk region, and Grafovka, Belgorod region, as well as a workshop for drones in Donetsk.
Russian Telegram channels indicated that drones attacked the Saratov refinery around 3:15 AM, leading to explosions and a subsequent fire on the premises, reportedly affecting the isomerization unit.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, various sites in Russia and occupied territories of Ukraine have been subjected to airstrikes. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed many of these attacks, stating that Ukrainian forces are systematically implementing measures aimed at reducing the combat capabilities of Russian occupying forces and compelling Russia to cease its armed aggression against Ukraine.
Ukrainian defense forces have targeted the Saratov Oil Refinery and other key infrastructure in Russia, aiming to disrupt military logistics. The attacks reflect ongoing efforts to diminish the operational capacity of Russian forces amid the ongoing conflict.