Russian Oil Terminal Hit in Ukrainian Drone Strike
Ukrainian drone forces struck a major Russian oil terminal in the Krasnodar region, igniting fires and injuring two people, while also hitting a vessel in the Black Sea.
Ukrainian drone forces struck a major Russian oil terminal in the Krasnodar region overnight, sparking fires and causing casualties, according to reports confirmed by New York Post. Local authorities in the port city of Novorossiysk said falling debris from the aerial attack ignited a blaze at an oil storage facility, leaving two people injured. Russia’s Astra news agency identified the target as the Sheskharis oil terminal and depot, a critical hub for state-controlled pipeline operator Transneft’s primary distribution network serving the southern region.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the overnight operation on Saturday, stating that forces had successfully engaged the Sheskharis installation. The military command emphasized that “the facility provides shipment of oil and oil products for export and is involved in meeting the needs of the Russian army,” according to a Telegram statement. Ukrainian forces also reported hitting a vessel belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet operating in the Black Sea.
The latest strike represents a continuation of Kyiv’s systematic campaign against Moscow’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian military capabilities have expanded considerably, with domestically-developed drone and missile systems now delivering sustained pressure against Russian assets that finance the ongoing invasion. Such attacks on oil terminals and refineries have become nearly routine occurrences throughout the conflict.
The operation came as the human toll from a separate Ukrainian strike mounted dramatically. A drone attack on a college dormitory in Starobilsk, located in Russia-controlled Luhansk, killed at least 18 people and wounded 60 others, according to Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.
President Vladimir Putin responded by characterizing the dormitory strike as a “crime” and directed military officials to develop retaliation proposals. Putin claimed no military installations existed near the residential building targeted in the May 22 operation.
At an emergency UN Security Council session requested by Russia, Ukrainian Ambassador Andrii Melnyk contested accusations of war crimes, dismissing Moscow’s claims as “pure propaganda show” and maintaining that Ukrainian operations specifically targeted legitimate military objectives connected to the Russian war effort.
With information from New York Post
