Drones attacked two oil refineries just 65-80 km east of Russia’s biggest crude oil export terminals on Wednesday, causing a fire at one and leaving the other unharmed, Russian officials quoted by Reuters said.

Afip Refinery in KrasnodarPhoto: Igor Onuchin / TASS / Profimedia

Around 01:00 GMT, a drone flew into the Afip oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, causing a fire that was later extinguished, Governor Veniamin Kondratiev said.

The Afip refinery is located 80 kilometers east of the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, one of Russia’s most important oil export ports.

“Novorossiysk” together with the terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (KPC) supplies the market with about 1.5% of the world’s oil.

Another drone hit the Ilsky Refinery, which is located approximately 60 kilometers east of Novorossiysk, reports the Russian state news agency RIA with reference to local authorities.

There is no word yet on who launched the drone, but Russia has accused Ukraine of escalating attacks on targets inside the country, including Moscow.

Ukraine almost never publicly takes responsibility for attacks inside Russia or on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine.

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