Ukraine claimed on Saturday to have conducted a drone strike on one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, leading to a fire at the facility located over 700 miles into Russian territory. The Taneco refinery in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, was targeted for the second time within a year by Ukrainian forces, as reported by Lieutenant Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation. Social media images, verified by CNN, depicted significant flames and smoke engulfing the facility, with workers seen evacuating amidst snowy conditions.
Contrary to the evidence presented, the press service of the Republic of Tatarstan refuted claims of a fire at the plant. They stated that what was observed was part of a safety drill involving a simulated evacuation, attributing the glowing visuals to the routine operations of the plant’s torches. With a refining capacity exceeding 16 million tons of oil annually, the Taneco refinery is described by Ukrainian official Kovalenko as playing a crucial role in fuel supply to the Russian military.
Kovalenko emphasized that targeting refineries and oil storage facilities directly undermines Russia’s capacity to sustain a protracted conflict. He revealed that the Taneco refinery had previously been attacked in the spring of 2024, resulting in damage to its primary processing unit. In April last year, Ukrainian drone strikes in Tatarstan took aim at a Shahed drone assembly plant and a primary oil refining unit at the refinery, identified as one of Russia’s top five facilities of its kind, according to CNN sources.
The April 2024 attack marked a significant escalation, being the deepest incursion into Russian territory by Ukrainian forces since the conflict commenced. To access more CNN news and newsletters, users are encouraged to register an account on CNN.com.
