Ukraine confirms targeting Russia’s Rostov oil refinery

Ukraine's Armed Forces' General Staff reported  that, at night, the Ukrainian Navy and the Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with other branches of the Defense Forces, struck the infrastructure and production facilities of the Novoshakhtinsk Petroleum Products Plant in Russia’s Rostov region.

It has been reported that this is the only refinery still operating in the Rostov region, primarily serving the needs of the Russian armed forces.

"The refinery specializes in producing fuel oil, heating oil, marine and diesel fuels, and straight-run gasoline. Its projected refining capacity is 7.5 million tons of oil per year," the statement read.

Following the attack on the refinery, a fire erupted in the vicinity of the facility, specifically at the catalytic cracker ELOU-AVT-2.5.

Earlier, Russia's Ministry of Defense reported the information Russia's air defense forces destroyed 84 unmanned aerial vehicles. Specifically, 36 drones were shot down over the Rostov region, 21 over the Bryansk region, 14 over the Belgorod region, 6 over the Voronezh region, 3 each over the Kursk and Tambov regions, and 1 over the Krasnodar Territory.

The governor of the Rostov region, Yuri Slyusar, stated that around midnight, seven drones were allegedly shot down, and preliminary reports indicated no casualties or ground damage.

Later, Slyusar reported that a fire broke out at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery due to a drone attack.

Meanwhile, Russian Telegram channels also reported the fire at the plant. According to locals, a "large number of drones" were involved in the attack.

"Earlier, an air raid siren sounded in the northern part of Rostov-on-Don, with reports of explosions over the city," the message adds.

• On December 18, Russian authorities claimed a missile attack on the Rostov region. The Center for Countering Disinformation reported that one of Russia's largest chemical plants came under fire.