Russia fighting to contain oil depot fire 92 Hours after drone attack

A Russian oil depot remained on fire after a Ukrainian drone attack more than two days ago.

The oil depot, based in the town of Azov in Russia’s Rostov region, came under attack from unmanned aerial vehicles from Ukraine on June 18. The attack ignited several oil storage tanks, causing extensive damage and depressurizing other infrastructure at the depot. Vasily Golubev, governor of the Rostov region, reported that emergency services had struggled to control the flames.

The targeted oil depot processed around 220,000 tons of fuel as of May this year so far, split between its two major terminals, DonTerminal and Azovproduct.

The Security Service of Ukraine claimed responsibility for the attack, telling Reuters that it carried out the drone attack early on Tuesday. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian infrastructure as part of its retaliation against the invasion, such as the destruction of the Crimea bridge, one of Russia’s main routes into the peninsula via land.

Newsweek contacted the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment on the situation via email.

The Moscow Times reported yesterday that at least 40 Russian oil depots and refineries have been attacked by Ukraine since the beginning of the year. Ukraine has repeatedly justified attacks such as this as a necessary part of the war effort. In March, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said Russian oil refineries were legitimate military targets due to their role in supporting Russian forces in Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out conditions for a permanent ceasefire in Ukraine, saying that Kyiv would have to halt all attempts to join NATO, and effectively cede control of several eastern Ukraine regions to the Russian forces.

Putin said: “I want to emphasize, it must be from the entire territory of these regions within their administrative borders as they existed at the time of their incorporation into Ukraine.

“As soon as Kyiv says they’re ready for such a decision and start the real withdrawal of forces from these regions and officially declare rejection of plans to join NATO, from our side, immediately, literally the same minute, will come an order to stop the fire and start negotiations.

“We will do it immediately. Obviously, we will guarantee the uninterrupted and safe withdrawal of Ukrainian forces.”

Despite the offer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly said that he will continue to fight until all disputed regions of Ukraine have been liberated.

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