Major fire at top Russian refinery could be Ukrainian strike
The most advanced Russian refinery in Tuapse has been ablaze for two days. It was most likely struck by a new Ukrainian Long Neptune missile with a range of approximately 1,000 kilometres. Shocking footage has appeared online, such as that of Russians on a train calmly observing the massive fire during their journey.
Recordings on social media confirm that the fire at the refinery in Tuapse is attracting considerable interest among Russians. Members of the local community can be seen looking towards the burning infrastructure, even while travelling by train.
Russia's most advanced refinery burning for two days
Initial reports suggested that Ukrainian drones attacked the refinery in Tuapse, but as noted by the Nexta service, "doubts about this version are growing." It is most likely that a Long Neptune missile hit the oil processing infrastructure.
The Long Neptune is a new Ukrainian missile with a range of approximately 1,000 kilometres. Speculation intensified after President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had used the rocket "against a ground target."
The attack occurred at 1:00 AM on Friday. Sergey Boyko, head of the Tuapse urban district, reported that a fire had ignited at a fuel storage facility. According to initial reports, there were no casualties or injuries, and the situation remained controlled.
Just before the explosion in Tuapse, the Crimean Bridge's press service announced that the crossing was closed. Typically, closing the bridge is related to the threat of a missile attack rather than a drone attack. The bridge was closed at 12:41 AM GMT, and the alarm was cancelled at 1:11 AM.
According to residents' accounts, sirens in the city only sounded after the impact.
The refinery in Tuapse is crucial for the Russian army. It supplies fuel to the Black Sea Fleet and military infrastructure in the south of the country. The refinery is also part of the logistical supply chain for fuel deliveries to military equipment and aviation. Its processing capacity is approximately 13 million tonnes of oil annually.
