Ukraine's military has struck a significant blow to Russian logistics by targeting a key oil depot in the Russian-occupied city of Rovenky, located in the Luhansk region. The attack, confirmed by Ukraine's General Staff on Saturday, ignited a massive fire at the facility, which is crucial for fueling Russian military operations in eastern Ukraine.
The depot, situated approximately 80 miles from the frontline, was hit in a coordinated effort involving Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate and other military units. "At the base were stored oil and petroleum products which were supplied for the needs of the army of the Russian Federation," the General Staff said in a Facebook post. "Combat work to undermine the military-economic potential of Russia continues."
While the Ukrainian military did not specify the weapons used in the strike, pro-Ukrainian social media channels suggested that kamikaze drones were deployed. Videos circulated online showed large plumes of smoke and emergency crews attempting to extinguish the blaze. Anton Gerashchenko, a former adviser to Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs, shared footage on social media, stating, "Locals post videos of a large fire after the strike."
The oil depot in Rovenky holds strategic importance due to its role in supplying fuel to Russian forces operating in the region. The town has been under Russian control since 2014, and the depot has been previously targeted by Ukrainian forces. "Previously, this oil depot had already been hit by Ukrainian weapons," the General Staff noted, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to disrupt Russian supply lines.
The oil depot in Rovenki, occupied Luhansk Oblast, targeted by drones last night, is one of just a handful of such facilities in the region.
Since its occupation in 2014, the facility has played a major role in sustaining Russian military operations in Luhansk and Donetsk… pic.twitter.com/GpmzZMDKMz — Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 12, 2024
Tim White, a journalist monitoring the conflict, remarked on social media, "Ukraine also made an important strike at night, with another hit on an oil depot in the occupied part of the country. The nearer the strikes to the frontline, the bigger Russia's problem."
This attack is part of a broader Ukrainian campaign aimed at weakening Russia's military capabilities by targeting fuel and oil storage facilities. Such operations are designed not only to hinder the mobility of Russian troops but also to impact Russia's economy, which is heavily reliant on oil exports.
Recent weeks have seen an uptick in Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. On October 7, drones targeted the Marine Oil Terminal in occupied Crimea, causing a fire that burned for four days and forced over a thousand people to evacuate. Satellite images captured thick black smoke billowing from the site in Feodosia. The partisan group ATESH reported that the strike led to fuel shortages on the peninsula, stating, "This situation shows that the destruction of objects of this scale critically affects both the supply of troops and the performance of combat missions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation."
In another instance, an oil depot fire near a town in Russia's Rostov region in August took two weeks to extinguish and injured 49 Russian firefighters. Despite these significant disruptions, analysts caution that while these attacks demonstrate Ukraine's reach and capability, they are unlikely to collapse Russia's oil sector entirely.
The Kremlin has not issued an official statement regarding the latest strike in Rovenky. Newsweek reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Ukraine's strategic focus on disrupting fuel supplies underscores the importance of logistics in the protracted conflict. By targeting depots deep within occupied territory, Ukraine aims to stretch Russian supply lines and create operational challenges for its forces. The continued assaults on infrastructure highlight Kyiv's intent to undermine Russia's military efforts from multiple angles.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has been instrumental in these operations. According to the Ukrainian Army's General Staff, the collaboration between intelligence and military units enhances the effectiveness of such strikes. The NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) confirmed a fire in the northeastern outskirts of Rovenky, corroborating reports of the attack.
Russian-affiliated Telegram channels acknowledged the incident, with "Intsydent Luhansk" reporting that Ukrainian drones attacked the oil depot. The channel claimed that Russian forces intercepted eight out of ten drones but admitted that two managed to hit the target, causing a fuel tank to catch fire. They also alleged that Ukrainian forces attempted subsequent attacks while firefighters were combating the blaze.
This is not the first time the Rovenky oil depot has been hit. Previous strikes in May 2024 and April 2023 resulted in significant damage, indicating that the facility has been a recurring target due to its strategic value.
As winter approaches, the disruption of fuel supplies could have amplified effects on Russian military operations. Fuel shortages may hinder troop movements and reduce the effectiveness of equipment reliant on petroleum products. Ukraine's calculated strikes on such facilities are likely to continue as part of its broader strategy to reclaim occupied territories and weaken Russian resolve.
