Ukraine Drone Attack Cripples Major Russian Oil Refinery

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has taken another hit to Russian energy infrastructure. A drone attack by Ukrainian forces has knocked out Novoshakhtinsk refinery, a major oil processing facility in southern Russia. The 110,000 barrels per day refinery was forced offline after the attack on Friday.

The Novoshakhtinsk refinery is not the first Russian energy site to be targeted by Ukraine. Last week, Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery near Moscow, damaging a processing plant co-owned by Rosneft and Gazprom Neft.

Russia has been struggling with fuel shortages since the spring, when Ukraine intensified its drone attacks on Russian refineries. The attacks have also led to Russia's ban on diesel exports, which is set to be extended until October 31 due to delayed refinery maintenance and rebuilding of fuel reserves before winter.