In a series of assaults on Moscow's vital oil facilities, Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted the Slavyansk oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region. The attack occurred around 3 a.m. local time on Sunday, causing a fire when one of the drones fell from the sky, local authorities reported.

This attack on the Krasnodar facility marks the sixth oil refinery struck in the past week, although Ukrainian media reports and Russian officials suggest the number of attempted strikes could be higher. Kyiv appears to be doubling down on its attacks on Russia's key infrastructure, specifically oil refineries, in an effort to disrupt its oil production and its ability to wage war in Ukraine.

The timing of these attacks is noteworthy as they coincide with the presidential elections in Russia, which are expected to solidify President Vladimir Putin's grip on power for another six years. However, the international community does not consider these elections to be free or fair.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence agency, stated that each drone strike that has disrupted the operation of oil facilities over the past few weeks has also impacted the supply of fuels and lubricants to the occupying forces in Ukraine. This suggests that the attacks are aimed at weakening Russia's military capabilities.

Local officials in Krasnodar confirmed that the fire at the refinery has been extinguished, but unfortunately, one person reportedly died of a heart attack during the drone strike. According to Ukrainska Pravda, Kyiv's security service, special forces, and drone specialists in Ukraine's armed forces were responsible for the attack on the Krasnodar plant.

Russia's Defense Ministry did not explicitly mention the attack on the oil refinery but stated that its defenses intercepted 17 Ukrainian drones over the Krasnodar region overnight.

In addition to the Krasnodar incident, two oil refineries in Russia's Samara region were also targeted by drones. The Novokuibyshevsk and Syzran refineries were struck, resulting in a fire at the Syzran facility. Reports from Ukrainian media suggested that a third refinery was also targeted, although Russian officials have not confirmed this.

Earlier last week, an oil refinery in Russia's Kaluga region was allegedly attacked by Ukrainian forces, but no casualties or infrastructure damage were reported. A separate incident in the Ryazan region resulted in an oil refinery catching fire after a Ukrainian drone strike, causing two injuries. Furthermore, electronic warfare systems intercepted a drone over the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery, temporarily disrupting operations.

On Tuesday, a Ukrainian drone strike hit an oil refinery in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region, resulting in a fire that was eventually extinguished. This attack impacted production at the Norsi refinery, which is the fourth largest in Russia.

The ongoing attacks on Russian oil refineries by Ukrainian forces are escalating tensions between the two countries. Both sides accuse each other of aggression, further complicating efforts to resolve the conflict. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, urging restraint and a peaceful resolution to the unrest.