Photo: Social media
Ukrainian drones attacked Russia’s Saratov region overnight on September 8, with explosions and a fire reported by local residents.
The Saratov oil refinery, which has been targeted by drones more than 15 times, was reportedly among the sites hit, according to an OSINT analysis by the Astra project.
Saratov Region Governor Roman Busargin said the attack caused damage to civilian infrastructure and resulted in casualties, without providing further details.
Refinery supplies Russia’s military
The Saratov Oil Refinery, part of Russia’s Rosneft since March 2013, is considered an important element of the country’s energy infrastructure.
According to Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, the refinery can process up to 7 million tonnes of oil annually and supplies the Russian military with aviation fuel, diesel and lubricants.
Kovalenko has described the facility as strategically important to Russia’s rear supply system, with its role dating back to the Second World War.
