Ukraine has launched a missile and drone attack on an oil refinery in the Russian city of Novoshakhtinsk, officials there have reported.
“As a result of a drone attack in Novoshakhtinsk, a fire broke out at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery”, acting governor of the Rostov region Yury Slyusar said in a Telegram.
Slyusar added that the Ukrainian attack included “over three dozen” drones as well as three missiles.
The fire broke out in the early hours of this morning, December 19, lighting up the night sky with a glow of burning orange, the Russian Telegram news channel Astra reported.
Images show a massive fire engulfing the oil refinery that has been repeatedly targeted during the course of the war.
According to RBC-Ukraine, explosions were heard in the city for around 40 minutes, according to residents.
“The sky became brighter. Just like last time, when they bombed,” said one eyewitness.
Another eyewitness added: “There was a sea of explosions… Periodic bursts of automatic gunfire, sounds of downed missiles.”
Images and videos circulating on social media show a raging blaze with huge columns of flames and thick black smoke spiralling into the night sky.
The Novoshakhtinsk plant is the largest supplier of petroleum products in southern Russia.
Located around six miles (10 kilometres) east of the border with Ukraine, it is a key supplier of fuel products for the Russian arm. It has been targeted by Ukrainian attacks several times.
The refinery has a capacity of 7.5 million tonnes and processed just over five million metric tonnes of crude in 2021.
On the night of June 6, 2024, residents living close to the Novoshakhtinsk plant once again reported hearing explosions in the vicinity.
Only earlier this week, Ukraine inflicted another major blow on Vladimir Putin’s war machine by killing top Russian general, Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, in an explosion when a bomb hidden on a moped was detonated in Moscow.
