Ukraine Says It Hit Russia’s Syzran Refinery, Azov Sea Tankers

Ukraine said it struck a refinery in Russia’s Samara region far from the nations’ border as well as a number of tankers in the Sea of Azov, the latest in a series of attacks on vessels and energy infrastructure.

(Bloomberg) — Ukraine said it struck a refinery in Russia’s Samara region far from the nations’ border as well as a number of tankers in the Sea of Azov, the latest in a series of attacks on vessels and energy infrastructure. Kyiv’s forces hit the Syzran oil refinery causing a fire at the facility, Ukraine’s General Staff said in a Telegram statement on Sunday.

The extent of the damage to the facility deep inside Russia was still being assessed, it said. Ukraine also attacked 10 tankers and four ferries in the Sea of Azov, the General Staff said. An empty tanker was damaged in a drone attack, Rostov region Governor Yuri Slyusar said in a Telegram post on Sunday.

A fire was contained and there were no injuries, he said. Bloomberg couldn’t independently verify the number of vessels struck. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces intercepted 349 Ukrainian drones overnight over several regions, including the Samara region, annexed Crimea, and the Azov and Black Seas.

One person was killed and three injured in the Samara region, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorischev said on Telegram. Ukraine has been targeting Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, striking refineries, fuel depots and oil-product tankers in a move to curb supplies and pressure the Kremlin into negotiations to end the war, now well into its fifth year. The attacks have sparked a fuel supply crunch and forced authorities to ban exports of most gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Overnight into Saturday, Russia said Ukraine attacked four vessels with drones in Taganrog Bay in the Sea of Azov. That followed a Friday strike in the area that disrupted shipping through a key Russian grain-export corridor. Ukraine previously said it struck the Syzran refinery, which is owned by Rosneft PJSC and is some 760 kilometers (470 miles) from Moscow, in May.

Russia overnight targeted port facilities in Odesa and Chornomorsk, in the Odesa region of Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, as well as sea vessels, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said. Ukraine’s General Staff said it shot down seven of nine Kh-59/69 missiles, and 95 out of 115 drones. Russia also fired four Kh-31 anti-radar missiles, which the General Staff said didn’t reach their targets.