Ukraine Drones Strike Russia's Largest Refinery in Siberia

Ukraine's Special Operations Forces stated on Thursday (12) that long-range drones struck the Omsk refinery, the largest in Russia, located in western Siberia. The operation took place on Wednesday (11) and marked the third attack on the facility since July.

Controlled by Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of the state-owned Gazprom, the refinery processes over 21 million tons of oil annually and accounts for one in every six liters of gasoline and diesel in the country. According to Kyiv, the drones flew nearly 3,000 kilometers in the most distant strike ever conducted against a Russian refinery.

The regional governor, Vitaly Khotsenko, confirmed the attack and urged residents to stay indoors. He stated that emergency teams were sent to areas hit by drone debris, though he did not specify which facilities were affected. The city's airport suspended all flights and mobile internet access was restricted.

The extent of the damage has not yet been confirmed. Residents reported a fire near the refinery and power outages in some neighborhoods during the more than eight hours of alerts. After the first attack in July, the unit had to halt all oil processing for repairs.

The strike occurs amid peace negotiations mediated by the United States. During early Asian trading on Thursday, Brent crude fell by more than $1 to near $91.60 per barrel as markets bet on progress in talks regarding Ukraine and Iran. Repeated strikes on Russian refineries keep energy at the center of geopolitical risk and may increase caution regarding assets like Bitcoin. More information at www.criptoico.com.br.