Ukrainian drones launch massive strike on Tatarstan oil refineries

On Monday morning, Ukrainian drones carried out a massive strike on the city of Nizhnekamsk in Russia's Tatarstan region — one of the country's largest industrial and petrochemical hubs. Both industrial facilities and civilian targets were hit, and there are reports of fatalities.

The press office of Tatarstan's head, Rustam Minnikhanov, confirmed the attack, saying the republic had come under "yet another brutal strike by enemy drones" and that the assault on Nizhnekamsk was ongoing. Regional authorities have declared mourning for all those killed in Monday's attack, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

Which plants were targeted

Nizhnekamsk's key enterprise is TANECO, owned by Tatneft — an oil refinery with a capacity of more than 16 million tonnes of crude per year, producing fuel, aviation kerosene and Euro-6 grade gasoline. The city is also home to the TAIF-NK refinery and production sites belonging to Sibur, Europe's largest producer of synthetic rubber and plastics.

Videos and photos shared by eyewitnesses on social media show drones flying over the city as well as plumes of smoke rising above the industrial zone.

Why Ukraine is targeting oil refining

Ukrainian forces have recently been conducting regular strikes on Russia's oil refining sector and fuel depots. Kyiv's goal is to disrupt fuel supplies to the Russian army and cut Moscow's oil export revenues, which are critical to financing the war against Ukraine.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz