**Explosions Reported at Russian Oil Refinery**
Reports of explosions and a fire at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov Oblast came in early on December 19. The incident is believed to be related to a drone attack, according to eyewitnesses.
A fire broke out at the facility after a mass drone attack, Russian media reported. Video footage of the site in flames was posted by the Telegram news channel Astra. Officials have not commented on the alleged attack.
**Attack Comes Amid Escalating Tensions**
The reported attack comes as Ukraine continues to target Russian industrial facilities. Just days earlier, an alleged strike on the Kamensky Combine, a chemical plant that produces rocket fuel for the Russian military, was reported by Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s counter-disinformation center.
**Ukrainian Forces Regularly Target Russian Oil Depots**
The Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery has been targeted by Ukrainian forces before. In July, an attack on the refinery destroyed 1.5 million tons of oil and oil products worth $540 million, according to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
**Russian Economy Takes Hit**
Fossil fuel exports are a major driver of the Russian economy and provide revenue for the Kremlin’s war machine. The attacks on oil depots and industrial facilities have weakened Russia’s economic position, making it harder for them to continue their military efforts in Ukraine.
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