Ukrainian kamikaze drones blow up Putin’s major oil refinery in Russia in a blitz to mar Russia’s presidential election
Ukrainian kamikaze drones caused a massive explosion at a major oil refinery in Russia – marring the first of three days of voting in Vladimir Putin’s presidential election.
The attack in the Kaluga region was the fifth successful attack on Russian oil refineries in the past four days.
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Footage shows a huge explosion as the oil refinery was hit by the first of three drones in the attack.
The plant’s equipment was damaged, according to sources quoted by ASTRA independent online media.
Other sources reported that the damage was “extensive.”
The attack came as Russian citizens began voting in presidential elections widely seen as rigged to put Putin in power for the next six years.
But the successful drone attack by Ukraine has marred the start of the mock elections.
It comes as the fifth successful attack on Russian oil refineries that could now lead to oil shortages across Russia.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian oil facilities, which is key to supporting Vladimir Putin’s illegal war against Ukraine.
Just three days ago Putin‘s oil refineries went up in flames after being bombed during the night.
Images showed an inferno at a Lukoil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region, 430 kilometers east of Moscow – after oil tanks exploded at the Kstovo plant.
Regional governor Gleb Nikitin said: “In the morning, the Kstovo industrial zone, a fuel and energy complex, was attacked by unmanned aerial vehicles.”
Activities at the oil refinery – one of the largest in Russia – were suspended after the strike.
In the meantime, another oil factory was destroyed in the Oryol region – which led to a massive fire after a drone exploded around 3am.
Other attacks hit the oil refinery in Ryazan, crucial for supplying the Russian capital Moscow.
Due to the heavy damage to the oil refineries, Russia is forced to temporarily suspend gasoline exports – and prices are now rising sharply.
The attacks come after a suspect Russian military drone facility was hit by a raging fire.
According to reports, the site was transferred last year to the production of drones for Vladimir Putin’s war Ukraine.
Images showed an inferno and extensive damage at the factory – believed to be linked to the Kalashnikov firearms manufacturer – in the Russian arms city of Izhevsk.