Drones hit Russia’s Samara oil hub that blends Urals export crude—first strike there since 11 October
Ukraine’s General Staff says the station blends a crude grade that makes up as much as half of Russia’s oil exports.
On 2 November, drones targeted Transneft's Samara oil pumping and blending station near Prosvet in Russia's Samara Oblast, marking at least the fifth attack on the site since 2 October, according to Ukrainian defense-news outlet Militarnyi. The station, which handles Russia's exported crude, was hit again on 11 October, the day US President Donald Trump announced an "energy ceasefire."
Ukrainian officials had previously stated they had never agreed to halt refinery strikes, despite Trump's request. On 31 October, Ukrainian officials told the Kyiv Independent that they had stopped hitting refineries for 72 hours following Trump's announcement. However, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak later claimed that attacks on Russian refineries resumed after a break.
Air-raid alerts sounded in the region around 23:19 Kyiv time on 1 November, and shortly after, Russia's aviation agency restricted flights at Samara's Kurumoch airport. NASA's FIRMS satellite fire tracker logged a heat anomaly at the station prior to a 06:56 all-clear. Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova+ posted video of the blaze, and Russian outlet The Insider confirmed the fire on FIRMS maps.
Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev claimed a Ukrainian air attack on the region but did not name specific targets. The station, which blends crude from Tatarstan, Western Siberia, and other Russian oil-producing regions, produces Urals, Russia's main export-grade crude. Ukraine's General Staff claims that Urals accounts for up to 50% of Russia's oil exports, and a 2 October strike reportedly damaged 11 tanks of 20,000 cubic meters and three tanks of 50,000 cubic meters.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
