Ukrainian drones struck Russia's second-largest oil refinery in the Leningrad region early Monday, sparking a major fire and killing a local woman, as Rosneft imposed fuel rationing across six regions and both sides intensified attacks on key infrastructure ahead of peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozdenko said air defences shot down 113 Ukrainian drones targeting the region during the overnight attack. Debris from one drone hit a residential building, killing a woman. The fire at the refinery was later contained. Three main processing units at the Kirishinefteorgsintez (KINEF) plant were damaged.
Rosneft announced on Monday it was capping petrol and diesel sales at its filling stations. In cities, customers are limited to 30 litres per transaction; on motorways, the cap is 50 litres. Authorities in the Leningrad region also recommended caps of 30 litres of petrol and 50 litres of diesel per transaction.
Russian forces launched 317 Shahed drones across Ukraine since Monday evening, Ukraine's air force said. A strike on a food warehouse in Odesa killed three people, and attacks on other regions caused deaths and injuries. Russia's Defence Ministry said it shot down 430 Ukrainian drones across 14 regions and Crimea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had agreed with the European Union to establish a mechanism to deploy funds more quickly in response to Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure. He said Kyiv, Dnipro, Sumy and Donetsk regions face acute energy crises. Russia has attacked Ukraine's energy sector 128 times in the past week, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Energy.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday's peace talks in Abu Dhabi between Russia, Ukraine and the United States would remain in a trilateral format. Zelenskyy said he coordinated negotiating positions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The Kirishi refinery is Russia's second largest, processing about 7% of the country's refining capacity. It has been targeted by Ukrainian drones multiple times since the full-scale invasion. The Leningrad region is a major hub for oil and grain exports from the Baltic Sea.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The attack disrupts Russia's energy infrastructure, potentially affecting global fuel supplies and military logistics.
- Fuel rationing in Russia signals domestic economic strain from the ongoing war.
- The strikes precede peace talks, testing both sides' commitment to de-escalation.
Background
The war in Ukraine began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Both sides have conducted strikes on energy infrastructure, with Ukraine targeting Russian refineries to reduce fuel supply for the military. The Kirishi refinery has been a previous target. Peace talks mediated by the US have been intermittent, with recent localized ceasefires.
Key Perspectives
- Governor Alexander Drozdenko: Reported the attack, confirming the fire was contained and the fatal casualty.
- Rosneft: Imposed fuel rationing, citing the need to manage supplies.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Announced EU emergency mechanism for energy aid and criticized Russia's energy attacks.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: Insisted on trilateral format for peace talks, excluding European representation.
What to Watch
- The impact of fuel rationing on Russia's domestic economy and military operations.
- Whether the Abu Dhabi talks produce any ceasefire agreement.
- Further strikes on energy infrastructure as winter approaches.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 3 sources: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedUkrainian drones set Russia’s second-largest refinery ablaze.Euronews: “Ukrainian drones struck the KINEF refinery in Russia's Leningrad region on Monday, causing major fires and damaging three oil processing units.”
- SupportedFuel rationing is spreading across six regions.Euronews: “Rosneft separately capped fuel sales in six regions, limiting drivers to 30 litres per transaction in cities.”
- SupportedOne person was killed in the attack.Just In: “The Kirishi refinery in the Leningrad region came under attack in the early hours of Monday, local time, and the woman was killed by falling drone debris.”
- SupportedRussia and Ukraine traded strikes ahead of peace talks.Just In: “The latest skirmishes come as Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators prepare for Tuesday talks on ending the full-scale war”
- SupportedAir defences shot down 113 Ukrainian drones targeting the Leningrad region during the overnight attack.Euronews: “Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozdenko said air defences shot down 113 drones targeting the region”
- SupportedDebris from one drone hit a residential building, killing a woman.Euronews: “debris from one struck the roof of a multi-storey building in Vsevolozhsk, killing a resident.”
- Partly supportedIn cities, customers are limited to 30 litres per transaction; on motorways, the cap is 50 litres.Euronews: “In cities, customers are limited to 30 litres of petrol per transaction; on motorways, the cap is 50 litres.”
- SupportedThree main processing units at the KINEF plant were damaged.Euronews: “Three main processing units at the Kirishinefteorgsintez (KINEF) plant were damaged.”
- SupportedRussian forces launched 317 Shahed drones across Ukraine since Monday evening.Euronews: “Russian forces launched 317 Shahed drones since Monday evening, including 105 jet-powered variants and Banderol/Dan-T, Gerbera and decoy drones, Ukraine's air force said.”
- SupportedA strike on a food warehouse in Odesa killed three people.Euronews: “A drone strike on a food warehouse in Odesa on Monday morning killed three people and left one in serious condition.”
- SupportedRussia has attacked Ukraine’s energy sector 128 times in the past week, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Russia has attacked Ukraine’s energy sector 128 times over the past week, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy.”
- SupportedPeskov said Tuesday’s peace talks in Abu Dhabi would remain in a trilateral format.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““What is set to take place in Abu Dhabi are trilateral negotiations between Russia and Ukraine under the mediation of the United States,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.”