Ukraine has launched a drone attack on a Russian oil refinery in the southern region of Krasnodar, injuring several people and damaging energy infrastructure, according to local authorities and international media reports.
The strike took place late Friday night (March 13) at the Kavkaz port oil facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region. Officials said three people were injured in the attack, while a service vessel and parts of the pier complex sustained damage.
In a statement posted on Telegram, regional authorities confirmed that the drone strike also triggered a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery in the area.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems intercepted 87 Ukrainian drones overnight. Among them, 31 were shot down over the Sea of Azov and 16 in the Krasnodar region.
The attack comes at a time when global oil markets are already under pressure due to rising tensions in the Middle East. Energy prices have been increasing amid fears of supply disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
In a related development, the United States reportedly carried out strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island earlier on Saturday, targeting facilities associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). However, Iranian officials claimed the attack did not damage oil infrastructure or disrupt exports.
Kharg Island is Iran’s main oil export hub, handling nearly 90 percent of the country’s crude shipments.
Analysts say simultaneous developments in the Russia-Ukraine war and the Middle East conflict are contributing to uncertainty in global energy markets.
