Ukraine said it pounded several Russian refining operations as Kyiv intensifies its attacks on the country's energy infrastructure that appears to be causing fuel shortages and price increases.
The Salavat petrochemical complex, one of Russia's largest which is located in the Bashkortostan region, was attacked by Ukrainian drones early on September 24, as well as strikes on Russian oil distribution facilities in the Bryansk and Samara regions.
Regional Governor Radiy Khabirov said Salavat, controlled by Russian energy giant Gazprom, was targeted by Ukrainian drones.
A source from Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) confirmed to RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service that its drones carried out the attack.
User-generated photos and videos circulating on Ukrainian and Russian Telegram channels showed a huge column of black smoke rising from the facility.
"All emergency services are on site. We are taking measures to extinguish the fire," Khabirov wrote in a Telegram post early on September 24.
Salavat, located about 1,500 kilometers from the front lines in Ukraine, produces 150 types of products, including automotive gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, bitumen, and polyethylene.
Amid the wave of attacks by Ukraine, Russia has seen growing shortages of some fuel grades due to reduced refining capacity.
US President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly on September 22 that he believed Russia's economy was stalling because of the war.
The Kremlin denied the claim on September 24, though it admitted that "yes, Russia is experiencing certain tensions and problem areas in various sectors of the economy."
RFE/RL's Crimea.Realities, however, reported that gas stations in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, were almost completely out of fuel supplies.
"What Crimeans feared has come to pass. Gas stations are out of gas, and many are closing altogether to avoid needlessly paying employees' salaries," one person told RFE/RL.
In addition to the refinery attacks, the southern Russian port city of Novorossiisk on the Black Sea was also hit by air and maritime drones, according to local Telegram channels, which published videos showing a damaged hotel and burning cars in its parking lot.
Regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev claimed that two people were killed and three others injured in the attack, adding that residential buildings and a hotel were damaged.
Ukrainian military forces had no immediate comment on the claim.
Local officials in Russia's Volgograd region also reported a "massive" drone attack on fuel and energy infrastructure, saying Russian air defenses repelled it.
Meanwhile, Russian overnight attacks on Ukraine continued, with Ukrainian officials reporting damage to energy and civilian infrastructure in the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, and Donetsk regions.
Ihor Terekhov, mayor of Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, said more than a dozen Russian kamikaze drones hit the city’s energy facility. The attacked caused a blackout in the Kholodnohirskiy district.
"Approximately 80,000 residential and commercial customers were temporarily left without power," the local energy provider said in a statement. It added that about 30,000 residents still remain without electricity.
Terekhov also reported damage to residential buildings, a shop, and several cars. No casualties were reported.
"The enemy is trying to break us with the strikes, but Kharkiv is holding strong. And it will stand," Terekhov added.
