(Dan Tri) - Ukraine increased UAV attacks on Russian energy facilities throughout 2024, posing a strong threat to the industry considered the backbone of the Russian economy .
Fire at a Russian oil depot in Engels after a Ukrainian drone attack (Photo: Ukrainian General Staff).
In 2024, Ukrainian drones carried out 81 attacks on oil refineries and fuel storage facilities across Russia, including Crimea and other territories controlled by Moscow, a BBC analysis says.
The attacks targeted both refineries and fuel depots, with 31 of them targeting refineries. Some facilities were severely damaged and in need of significant repair, especially in southern Russia, the hardest-hit region.
About 20% of the attacks occurred in the Krasnodar region, other affected regions included Rostov (8 attacks), Belgorod (6 attacks), Orel and Volgograd (5 attacks each).
The frequency of Ukrainian attacks decreased in the second half of the year. The Financial Times reported that US officials advised Ukraine in March last year to refrain from attacking Russian energy infrastructure, fearing a spike in global oil prices and possible retaliation from Russia.
Kiev’s advanced drone capabilities have allowed it to launch strikes deep into Russian territory, leaving oil refineries in western Russia vulnerable, which account for 60 percent of Moscow’s oil exports, according to former CIA analyst Helima Croft.
These attacks caused major disruptions in fuel production, reducing gasoline and diesel output and pushing up prices. It also directly affected the energy sector, which is the backbone of the Russian economy.
According to Reuters , the refinery capacity shutdown due to Ukraine's attacks on Russia increased to 2.7 million tonnes by November 2024, with total downtime since the beginning of the year up 17% compared to last year.
Major refineries, including NORSI and Volgograd Lukoil, have suffered delays and breakdowns, exacerbated by sanctions that have limited access to Western technology vital to their operations.
Late last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country planned to build 30,000 long-range attack UAVs next year, to target Russian strategic targets.
Previously, military expert HI Sutlon estimated that Ukraine had produced 23 different types of long-range attack UAVs. These UAVs were produced by many different groups, with designs and materials ranging from simple to complex. In addition, Ukraine also received long-range attack UAVs from foreign aid, for example Dominator and Phoenix Ghost from the US.
Additionally, Ukraine has announced that it will begin mass production of the Palyanytsya unmanned missile with support from the Ministry of Defense . First announced in August 2024, the Palyanytsya is described as a “rocket-powered drone” capable of hitting targets at high speeds up to 643km away.
Palyanytsya would pose a significant challenge to Russian defense forces, which are only equipped to deal with low-speed UAVs.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/dan-sat-thu-tren-khong-ukraine-uy-hiep-huyet-mach-kinh-te-cua-nga-20250109144844654.htm
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