Drone Strike Ignites Fire at Key Russian Oil Storage Facility in Krasnodar Region

A series of drones struck an oil storage facility in the Russian city of Tikhoretsk in the Krasnodar region, according to the OSINT monitoring community Exilenova+ on March 12.

The strike reportedly triggered a major fire at the site, which was still burning hours later. At least two fuel storage tanks were engulfed in flames.

Videos filmed by local residents show thick black smoke rising above the city skyline. Witnesses can also be heard confirming that the drones hit the local oil depot.

According to the Russian outlet Astra, the damaged facility is part of the Tikhoretsk oil hub, one of the largest oil transfer points in southern Russia.

The site is operated by the company Tikhoretsk-Nafta, which is part of Russia’s state pipeline giant Transneft. The facility functions both as a large oil storage base and as a key transit terminal in the regional oil transportation network.

Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said the fire covered an area of approximately 150 square meters. More than 80 firefighters and 26 pieces of emergency equipment were deployed to contain the blaze.

Officials did not immediately confirm the extent of the damage to the facility or whether the attack disrupted operations at the oil hub.

Earlier, a drone strike targeted a major oil pumping facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region, triggering a large fire at the site, according to reports circulating on Russian Telegram channels and regional authorities.

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