Defense Forces Strike Rosrezerv’s Oil Storage Facility in Engels

Ukrainian Defense Forces have hit the oil storage facility of Russia’s Rosrezerv Kristal plant in Engels, which serves, among other things, to store jet fuel for Russian strategic aviation.

This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“In addition, the infrastructure of the fuel and lubricants storage facility at the Kristal plant in Engels, Saratov region of the Russian Federation, was hit. Explosions were recorded in the area of the target with subsequent combustion on the territory of the facility,” the agency noted.

Local residents published footage of drone flights and the operation of Russian air defense systems in the city, accompanied by numerous explosions and a subsequent fire.

The governor of Saratov region, Roman Busargin, reported on his Telegram after 2:00 a.m. about the threat of UAVs in the region, and after five in the morning confirmed the drone attack.

At the same time, local authorities did not report what exactly was hit, writing only about the alleged “damage to civilian infrastructure.”

This particular oil storage base provides fuel to the nearby Engels-2 military airfield. Although Russia has significantly reduced the activity of its strategic aviation at this airfield after Operation Web, it is still one of the bases where Russian Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft arrive before launching missile strikes against Ukraine.

This is at least the fourth attack by Ukrainian drones on the Kristall oil storage facility in 2025. In January, two attacks (1, 2) took place in a row, and another strike was carried out in June.

The new attack was part of a massive missile and drone strike on Russian territory on the night of November 13-14, which was carried out “as part of reducing the military and economic potential of the Russian aggressor.”

In addition to the Kristall oil storage facility, the Saratov refinery, located about 10 kilometers west of the storage facility on the other side of the Volga River, was also successfully struck.

The infrastructure of the Sheskharis port and oil terminal and the S-300/400 missile launcher and missile storage facility were also hit, with subsequent detonation and fire.

The Sheskharis terminal is the end point of the Russian company Transneft’s pipelines. It is one of the main hubs for exporting oil and oil products from Russia through the Black Sea. The facility is of strategic importance to the aggressor country.

This port is the second largest oil export center in Russia. According to the Suspilne media outlet, the attack damaged oil stands on the berths, pipeline infrastructure, and pumping units. Russian regional authorities also reported that a ship was hit in the port. After the attack, the port suspended oil exports.