2,000 Km drone strike into Russia, a new distance record.
Kyiv Independent (10Aug):
“Drones attacked an oil refinery in Saratov on Aug. 10, sparking a large fire and explosions, according to local reports.”
And separately:
“A Ukrainian drone attack on Aug. 10 struck the Lukoil-Ukhta oil refinery in Russia’s Komi Republic, about 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) from the Ukrainian border, a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent....
...The attack marks Kyiv’s first confirmed drone strike in Russia’s northwestern Komi Republic.
Ukrainian drones hit the Lukoil-Ukhta refinery, which supplies Russian forces with fuel and lubricants, according to HUR. The refinery was targeted as part of a special operation by Ukraine’s military intelligence.
The drones struck a petroleum tank, causing it to spill, HUR said. The attack also damaged a gas and gas condensate processing plant that produces propane-butane and gasoline.
Local residents also report power outages and mobile internet outages in Ukhta.
Earlier in the evening, local Telegram channels reported a drone attack in Ukhta targeting the Lukoil refinery, which authorities evacuated. The independent Russian media outlet Novaya Gazeta also said that flights at the airport were temporarily suspended.
Rostislav Goldshteyn, the acting head of the Komi Republic, said on social media that workers at enterprises in the drones’ flight path were evacuated and that there were no casualties. He did not provide details on which enterprises were evacuated and did not mention an oil refinery in his post...
...The Lukoil plant specializes in processing blended crudes from oilfields in the Komi Republic, shipped to the facility via the Usa-Ukhta pipeline.”
I wonder if this is part of a Ukranian effort to freeze Russia this winter and severely damage Russia’s war effort. Are these oil refineries primarily for internal use or primarily for export? Would lack of heat spark an uprising of the people against this wasteful war which is now causing misery and destruction of basic services at home? I have seen no reports of civilian casualties caused by Ukraine bombing in Russia except of people working or living very close to such bombed military related facilities and buildings. Is that because Ukraine, unlike Putin, is avoiding targeting residential areas, or is Russia just hiding those figures from their own people and the world?