Ukraine hits major Russian refinery and Black Sea oil terminal as drones strike substation powering occupied Crimea

On 19 August, Ukraine’s Defense Forces launched a series of drone attacks against key targets in Russia, putting three crucial aspects of the country’s war machine under attack within hours. The targeted sites included a major oil refinery, a Black Sea oil terminal, and a substation powering occupied Crimea.

The TANECO refinery in Nizhnekamsk, located in the Russian republic of Tatarstan, was among the primary targets. Ukrainian drones successfully struck the production site, resulting in a fire at the facility. TANECO, owned by Tatneft, is one of Russia’s largest and most advanced refineries, capable of processing over 16 million tons of crude annually.

In addition to the refinery, Ukraine also targeted the Tamanneftegaz oil and gas terminal in Volna, Krasnodar Krai. The General Staff reported a fire at the terminal, while NASA’s FIRMS data confirmed the presence of thermal anomalies, indicating that storage tanks were likely burning. As a major link in Russia’s Black Sea exports, the terminal holds a significant capacity of over 19.9 million tons annually.

The strikes continued with an assault on the Taman 500-kilovolt substation in Krasnodar Krai, which serves as a critical gateway for electricity supplied to occupied Crimea. Monitoring firm NetBlocks reported a sudden decline in internet connectivity across Russian-controlled Crimea, coinciding with a power blackout in Sevastopol, Simferopol, Kerch, Feodosia, and Yalta shortly after the drone attacks. The power failure disrupted electric transport and left several cities without electricity.