Oil Refineries in Russia’s Rostov Region and Moscow Hit by Drone Strikes

Attack on the Gukovo Oil Refinery

According to Главком: In the early hours of June 18, drones struck an oil refinery in the town of Gukovo, located in Russia’s Rostov region, sparking a fire. This incident was part of a larger wave of attacks, with approximately 300 combat drones reportedly operating across Russian territory that night. The assault also reached Moscow, where local air defense forces claimed to have intercepted several drones approaching the capital, according to Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.

Gukovo is a border mining town in western Rostov Oblast, adjacent to the temporarily occupied Luhansk region. The targeted refinery has been operational since 2013 and has an annual processing capacity of around 50,000 tons of crude oil. Near the facility lie the Gukovo-Krasnaya Mogila railway checkpoint and the Gukovo-Chervonopartizansk road crossing.

Widespread Drone Raid and Airport Security Measures

This attack unfolded amid a massive drone offensive involving numerous unmanned aircraft across various Russian regions. On the same night, June 18, Moscow also came under fire. Just two days earlier, on June 16, the mayor reported damage to the capital’s largest refinery in Kapotnya from a drone strike. The Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya supplies up to 40% of the city’s fuel market.

In response to the heightened threat, authorities activated the Kovyor emergency plan at multiple airports, including Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, Kaluga, Penza, Saratov, Nizhny Novgorod, and Nizhnekamsk. This protocol is designed to ensure aviation safety during such aerial attacks.

The strike on the Gukovo refinery and other regions underscores growing security risks in Russia linked to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. These events may signal a shift in tactics within the ongoing conflict and an increased threat to critical infrastructure. The implementation of the Kovyor plan at airports reflects the severity of the situation and the urgent need to protect civilians and key facilities.

The recent drone strike on the Gukovo oil refinery highlights escalating security challenges in Russia's energy sector. This incident follows a significant disruption at another key facility, which recently faced a drone attack leading to an extended shutdown. To understand the broader implications of these assaults on oil production and safety measures in Moscow, read more about the forced closure of the Moscow refinery.