**Ukraine Hits Russian Oil Refinery**
The Ukrainian military hit a major oil refinery in southern Russia. The attack happened overnight on December 19.
**Key Targets**
The strike was carried out by Ukraine’s Naval Forces and Security Service (SBU). They worked together with other defense forces to target the refinery’s infrastructure and production facilities. This suggests that domestic Neptune missiles might have been used, as the Naval Forces don’t typically use aerial drones for attacks inside Russia.
**Important Details**
The refinery, called Novoshakhtinsk Oil Products Plant, is the only operational oil refinery in Rostov Oblast. It supplies fuel to the Russian Armed Forces. The plant produces various types of fuel and has a design capacity to process 7.5 million tons of crude oil annually.
**Aftermath**
A fire broke out at the facility’s main production unit, called ELOU-AVT-2.5 catalytic cracking unit. This type of unit is crucial for separating crude oil into fractions. Ukrainian military officials say they are still clarifying the consequences of the strike.
**Military Goals**
The Ukrainian General Staff emphasized that their forces continue to take measures to weaken Russia’s military and economic capabilities, with the goal of ending Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.