Did Ukraine Successfully Strike the Kirishi Oil Refinery in Russia's Leningrad Region?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The Kirishi refinery is a major oil processing facility in Russia.
- The attack signifies Ukraine's strategy to disrupt Russian military supplies.
- Drones are becoming increasingly important in the ongoing conflict.
- The situation remains fluid, with potential repercussions for regional security.
Kyiv, Sep 15 (NationPress) - The Ukrainian military announced that it targeted the Kirishi oil refinery located in Russia's northwestern Leningrad region. The attack occurred on Sunday night, leading to significant explosions and a fire at this major facility, which is recognized as one of the largest oil refineries in Russia.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that the refinery, known for producing approximately 80 varieties of petroleum products such as automotive gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel, plays a significant role in supplying the Russian military, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
This strike on the Kirishi refinery aligns with a series of Ukrainian operations targeting Russian oil infrastructure, which Kyiv claims is essential for supporting Moscow’s military efforts. The refinery, managed by Russian oil giant Surgutneftegas, has a production capacity of nearly 17.7 million metric tons annually (equivalent to 355,000 barrels per day), making it one of the top three refineries in Russia.
As the conflict continues over three years since Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, drones have become a pivotal weapon for both sides. Recently, multiple Russian drones entered Poland, prompting NATO to deploy fighter jets to intercept them, highlighting fears that the conflict might extend beyond Ukraine's borders.
According to the General Staff of Ukraine, explosions and a fire were observed at the Kirishi refinery.
Commonly referred to as Kirishinefteorgsintez or KINEF, this refinery ranks among Russia's top two in terms of processing volume, alongside the Ryazan Oil Refinery. A subsidiary of Surgutneftegaz, the facility processes around 17.7 million metric tons of crude oil per year (355,000 barrels per day).