Russian oil refinery near Ukraine says it was hit by drone attack

The refinery’s administration says operations have been suspended after a drone assault focused infrastructure.

Russian Emergency State of affairs ministry's firefighters work on the scene of a hearth on the Novoshakhtinsk oil processing plant within the Rostov area [Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service via AP Photo]

A drone assault has hit a significant Russian oil refinery close to the border with Ukraine, the plant’s administration mentioned, sending a ball of flame and black smoke billowing into the sky and prompting the suspension of operations.

Officers on the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov area mentioned the primary drone attacked at 8:40am (05:40GMT), hitting a crude distillation unit, triggering a blast and ball of fireside.

The second assault, at 9:23am, focused crude oil reservoirs on the refinery, the most important provider of oil merchandise in southern Russia, however prompted no fireplace, based on plant administration. Nobody was reported injured.

Russian areas bordering Ukraine have reported assaults and shelling after Moscow despatched its troops into its neighbour on February 24 for what it nonetheless calls a “particular army operation”.

The refinery is in southwestern Russia, simply 8km (5 miles) from the border with Ukraine.

“On account of terrorist actions from the Western border of the Rostov area, two unmanned aerial automobiles struck on the technological services of Novoshakhtinsk,” an announcement from the plant mentioned.

“Workers have been evacuated and technological tools has been stopped to evaluate the injury.”

There was no rapid remark from Ukrainian officers on the alleged assault.

Rostov’s Governor Vasily Golubev mentioned the oil refinery suspended operations. He mentioned fragments of two drones had been discovered on the refinery.

Footage posted on social media appeared to indicate a drone flying in the direction of the refinery, earlier than a big ball of flame rose up. Al Jazeera was not in a position to confirm the authenticity of the video.

The refinery, which began operations in 2009, has an annual capability of as much as 7.5 million tonnes.

Russia’s vitality ministry mentioned the fireplace had not affected gasoline and diesel provides to customers in southern Russia.

Wednesday’s alleged assault on the refinery follows a sequence of explosions and fires in western Russia amid Moscow’s conflict in Ukraine.

Russia is investigating the reason for a big fireplace that erupted at an oil storage facility within the metropolis of Bryansk, 154km (96 miles) northeast of the border with Ukraine, in late April.

A number of different explosions and fires hit refineries, oil depots, and an ammunition storage facility. Ukraine has not formally taken duty for the incidents. Some Ukrainian media have claimed they're a results of Ukrainian assaults.