Ukraine Targets Russia’s War Fuel Chain With Strikes on Refinery and Oil Pumping Station

Ukrainian Defense Forces struck two major Russian oil infrastructure sites on May 28 and overnight into May 29, hitting the Volgograd oil refinery and the Yaroslavl-3 oil pumping station, Ukraine’s General Staff reported on May 29.

According to the General Staff, the Volgograd refinery in Russia’s Volgograd region was hit, with a fire recorded on the facility’s territory.

The strike reportedly damaged several primary oil processing units, including AVT-1, AVT-3, AVT-5, and AVT-6, as well as secondary oil processing units. The plant has halted production, while the full scale of the damage is still being assessed.

The Volgograd refinery is part of Russia’s Lukoil network and is one of the largest oil refining facilities in southern Russia. Its processing capacity is around 14 million tons of oil per year.

The facility produces gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, and other petroleum products, including supplies used for Russian military logistics and the needs of Moscow’s army.

Ukraine also struck the Yaroslavl-3 oil pumping station in Russia’s Yaroslavl region. The General Staff said the target was hit, and a fire broke out on the station’s territory.

Two oil tanks are confirmed to be burning at the site, with capacities of 50,000 cubic meters and 20,000 cubic meters. The extent of the damage is being clarified.

The Yaroslavl-3 station is a key node on the Surgut–Polotsk pipeline, which transports oil from Siberia and northern Russia toward the Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, as well as to Belarus.

The station is part of Russia’s state-owned pipeline operator Transneft.

Earlier, reports emerged that the Russian government was preparing to expand its restrictions on exporting petroleum products following a wave of drone strikes on oil refineries.

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