Ukrainian Forces Strike Oil and Gas Facilities in Russia’s Samara and Orenburg Regions
On the night of October 19th, Ukrainian military forces attacked the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery and the Orenburg gas processing plant in Russia. According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, fuel reserves in the temporarily occupied Berdyansk were also hit.
Explosions and a fire were reported at the Novokuibyshevsk refinery, which engulfed the enterprise supplying over 20 types of commercial products. Equipment for primary oil processing was damaged. This plant actively supports the needs of the Russian army. The Novokuibyshevsk refinery had previously been targeted in attacks, including in September of this year.
Simultaneously, explosions and a large-scale fire were reported at one of Russia’s largest gas processing complexes—the Orenburg gas processing plant. The plant, capable of processing up to 45 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually, also sustained damage. One of the units for gas processing and purification was affected.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also reported strikes on a fuel and lubricants base in Berdyansk. The distance to the Novokuibyshevsk refinery from the Ukrainian border is approximately 900 km, and to the Orenburg gas processing plant, it is about 1200 km.
These strikes underscore the ability of Ukrainian forces to inflict strategic losses far beyond the front lines, which has significant implications for the logistical support of the Russian army. Analysts note that an increase in such attacks could severely complicate logistical support for Russian military formations.
