re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Drone attack reportedly targets oil refinery in Russia's Tatarstan

by Dinara Khalilova and The Kyiv Independent news desk April 2, 2024 2:46 PM

During an April 2 attack on industrial facilities in Russia's Tatarstan, a drone targeted one of the country's largest oil refineries, located in the city of Nizhnekamsk, emergency services told Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti.

Fossil fuels are the primary drivers of the Russian economy and the main source of revenue for the Kremlin's war machine. Despite Western sanctions, Russia still provides oil and gas to other countries around the world, primarily India and China.

Over the last weeks, Ukraine has carried out increasingly regular attacks on Russian oil refineries and other industrial facilities with long-range drones. An attack on March 17 targeted a dozen Russian oil refineries, reportedly amounting to about 12% of Russia's oil-processing capacity.

The attack on Tatarstan also hit a manufacturing facility for Shahed-type attack drones at the Alabuga special economic zone in the Yelabuga district, a source in Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.

The Taneco oil refining complex came under drone attack in the morning, which led to a fire that was extinguished in 20 minutes, the emergency services said.