The Ukrainian military on Sunday claimed responsibility for a large-scale drone attack targeting a vital oil facility in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia, which resulted in massive fires at the site, in a move that indicates an escalation in attacks on energy infrastructure between the two sides of the conflict.
Details of the attack on Taman port
In an official statement, Ukrainian forces confirmed the success of the strike targeting the Taman oil and gas export terminal, located near the village of Volna in the Krasnodar region. Field reports indicated a large fire broke out at the site following the attack. This strike is part of Kyiv's strategy to disrupt Russian supply lines and reduce Moscow's logistical capabilities in areas near the front lines.
For his part, Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratyev acknowledged significant material damage, explaining that the attack targeted an oil storage facility, a warehouse, and other port facilities. The Russian official indicated that two people were injured, confirming that emergency teams were mobilized and more than 100 firefighters were deployed to control the blazes at the Black Sea port, located near the Crimean Peninsula.
Energy war and targeting infrastructure
This attack comes in the context of what has become known as an “energy war” parallel to the ground battles; in recent months, Ukraine has been regularly targeting oil refineries and fuel depots deep inside Russia. Kyiv frames these operations as a legitimate response to ongoing Russian shelling targeting Ukrainian electricity and energy networks, which has caused widespread power outages in Ukrainian cities.
Observers believe that targeting Russian oil facilities has a dual strategic dimension; on the one hand, it hinders military supplies to Russian forces on the front lines, and on the other hand, it seeks to reduce the financial revenues that Moscow relies on to finance its war effort, thus adding economic pressure on the Kremlin.
The confrontation has widened to include Sochi
In a significant development, the attacks were not limited to oil facilities; their effects extended to the Black Sea resort city of Sochi. The governor of Krasnodar reported damage to a house in the city, which had long remained largely untouched by the direct consequences of the war compared to other border cities. The arrival of the mercenaries in Sochi carries considerable symbolic and security implications, given its status as a presidential resort and a major tourist destination.
In response, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its air defenses had countered the attacks, confirming that 88 Ukrainian drones had been shot down over various southern and border regions on Sunday morning, reflecting the intensity of the attack and the scale of the challenges facing air defense systems in protecting sprawling vital facilities.
