In a recent drone strike blamed on Ukraine, Russia's largest oil refinery, the Tuapse refinery on the Black Sea, suffered significant damage. Over 75 drones targeted multiple regions in Russia in a barrage that occurred overnight from Sunday to Monday, according to Russian officials.

Local authorities confirmed that a fire at the Tuapse refinery was sparked by debris from a drone that was shot down during the attack. These drone strikes, orchestrated by Ukraine, aim to disrupt Russian energy supplies and funding for Moscow's military efforts. Ukraine often refrains from directly claiming responsibility for such attacks.

The continued targeting of Russian refineries by Ukrainian drones led the government to impose a ban on gasoline exports from March to July in order to maintain price stability. Last week, Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Agency suggested the possibility of reintroducing the ban in August due to concerns over prices at the pump, particularly with regards to shortages of Ai-95-rated gasoline, which is preferred by newer car engines.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak acknowledged the difficulties surrounding Ai-95 gasoline and confirmed that the export ban could be reinstated after August 1 if the situation regarding gasoline supplies becomes tense. These developments have raised concerns about the impact on gas prices for Russian drivers.

The drone attack on the Tuapse refinery was reportedly carried out by Ukraine's military intelligence service (HUR), as stated by the Kyiv Independent, citing an unnamed agency source. Russian air defenses attempted to shoot down four kamikaze drones simultaneously, but the refinery was hit by at least eight drones resulting in powerful explosions.

Video footage shared on social media purportedly shows the moment of impact on the facility, owned by Russian oil major Rosneft. The attack also led to a fire near the Morozovsk air base in Rostov Oblast, according to reports.

The Tuapse refinery, which has a processing capacity of 240,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil, primarily supplies fuel to Turkey, China, Malaysia, and Singapore, as reported by Reuters. This is not the first time the plant has been targeted by Ukraine.

No comments have been provided by the Russian and Ukrainian defense ministries regarding this incident.

The damage caused to the Tuapse refinery raises concerns about the potential impact on gas prices for Russian consumers, adding further strain to an already tense situation between Ukraine and Russia.