Strike on Kristal oil depot near Engels targets specific fuel and “grounds” Tu-160s

Defense Express explains that, thanks to Ukraine’s long-range strike on the night of January 8, a highly specific military facility was targeted, with no exaggeration of its strategic significance. The strike hit the Kombinat Kristal state reserve storage facility, which stores fuel for the Russian strategic aviation base in Engels.

Footage from the scene shows a large-scale fire engulfing part of the tanks. Local authorities have also confirmed the successful strike on the facility by Ukrainian long-range drones.

When it comes to fuel for aircraft stationed at Engels Air Base, the focus is on strategic bombers such as the Tu-95MS and Tu-160 from the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division. While the Tu-95MS uses standard aviation fuels (T-1, TS, RT), the Tu-160 requires a specific, high-density fuel type known as T-8V.

Notably, T-8V fuel gives the exhaust of the four NK-32 engines of the Tu-160 a distinctive saturated yellow color, a feature specifically designed for this type of fuel.

The production of T-8V fuel is a highly specialized process, not carried out at every oil refinery. While specific information about its production in Russia remains unclear, during the Soviet era, high-density fuels were produced exclusively at petrochemical plants in Angarsk (now Angarsk Petrochemical Company) and Orsk (now Orsknefteorgsintez).

If the tanks storing T-8V fuel for the Tu-160 were targeted, it could potentially 'ground' these aircraft and limit their operational capacity. However, Russia rarely uses Tu-160s for strikes against Ukraine. In fact, the last time they were deployed was during an attack on November 17, 2024, marking the bombers' first use in 550 days.