Saratov Oil Refinery Halts Operations After Drone Strike

The Saratov oil refinery halted operations after a Ukrainian drone attack on the night of March 21.

According to Astra, citing sources in Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, the strike damaged a secondary oil processing unit and a large vertical storage tank (RVS-10000).

A diesel fuel tank with a capacity of 10,000 tons also caught fire, with the blaze spreading over at least 400 square meters.

Additionally, drone debris fell on a nearby thermal power plant (CHP-2), damaging a cable.

The 1st Separate Center, the 414th Magyar’s Birds Brigade, and the 413th Raid Regiment, in coordination with other units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, performed the operation that caused damage to key facilities at the plant.

The targeted Russian refinery

The Saratov oil refinery, part of the state-owned company Rosneft, is one of the oldest oil refineries in Russia. As of 2023, its oil processing volume amounted to 4.8 million tons.

The facility is strategically important to the aggressor state because it produces more than 20 types of fuel and chemical products.

In particular, the plant’s facilities produce gasoline, diesel fuel, and fuel oil. It also manufactures vacuum gas oil and technical sulfur, which are used for Russia’s industrial and military needs.

Overall, the facility has been attacked at least 13 times over the course of the full-scale war.

Amid regular Ukrainian drone strikes, Rosneft is seeking effective ways to protect its refineries and oil depots from such threats.

Hackers reportedly gained access to a project titled “Systems for Protection Against Unauthorized UAV Use at Company Facilities,” which outlines protective structures for the infrastructure of these sites.