Ukrainian drones strike one of Russia’s top oil refineries, sparking fire

Ukrainian drones overnight struck one of Russia s largest oil refineries sparking a fire according to Russian bureaucrats and Ukraine s military The strike on the Kirishi refinery in Russia s northwestern Leningrad region follows weeks of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure that Kyiv says fuels Moscow s war effort The facility operated by Russian oil major Surgutneftegas produces close to million metric tons per year barrels per day of crude and is one of Russia s top three by output More than three years since Russia s full-scale invasion of Ukraine drones have emerged as a key weapon for both sides Multiple Russian drones crossed into Poland on Wednesday prompting NATO to send fighter jets to shoot them down and underlining long-held concerns that the fighting might spill over beyond Ukraine s borders According to Ukraine s General Staff explosions and a fire were informed at the Kirishi refinery It posted a photo appearing to show a blaze and clouds of smoke against a night sky Regional Gov Alexander Drozdenko announced three drones were downed overnight in the Kirishi area with falling debris sparking a fire at the facility He declared no one was injured and the blaze was put out Russian agents did not without delay commented on the consequences of the strike At least Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over Russia occupied Crimea and the adjacent Sea of Azov according to the Russian Defense Ministry Russia remains the world s second largest oil exporter but a seasonal rise in demand and sustained Ukrainian drone strikes have caused gasoline shortages in newest weeks Gas stations have run dry in specific regions of the country with motorists waiting in long lines and bureaucrats resorting to rationing or cutting off sales altogether To try to ease the shortage Russia has paused gasoline exports with administrators Wednesday declaring a full ban until Sept and a partial ban affecting traders and intermediaries until Oct Deadly incidents along Russia s rails Also in the Leningrad region a diesel locomotive was derailed during the night local Gov Drozdenko mentioned Sunday The region surrounds but does not include Russia s second city of St Petersburg Drozdenko announced the locomotive s driver was trapped in his cabin and later died of his injuries while being transported to a hospital He added an official probe would check for signs of sabotage Separately a bomb planted along railway lines in Russia s Oryol region has killed three people according to reports by local Gov Andrey Klychkov He disclosed casualties had been inspecting the track and identified one as a member of Russia s National Guard According to Klychkov s posts published late Saturday and Sunday the event happened near the town of Maloarkhangelsk a few kilometers miles from the Ukrainian edge Russian agents did not this instant comment on what caused it Follow AP s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https apnews com hub russia-ukraine Source