The Ukrainian shelling of the Chornomorneftegaz drilling platforms resulted in injuries to three workers, with seven others reported missing, according to a statement released on a Telegram channel by the head of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov.
At the time of the strikes, a total of 109 personnel were on board the rigs. The first strike reportedly occurred at 08:37 Moscow time, and three separate platforms were hit in quick succession.
In a statement attributed to Aksyonov, it was noted that around 8 a.m. enemy forces attacked the Chornomorneftegaz facilities. Since then, efforts have focused on coordinating with the Defense Ministry and the FSB to rescue those affected. The search for the seven missing personnel continues, with aviation support from the Defense Ministry and patrol ships deployed for the operation.
According to Aksyonov, there were 109 people on the towers in the morning. Preliminary information indicates that the most severe impact was the first strike on the initial tower. The authorities also reported that 21 people had been evacuated so far.
Chornomorneftegaz’s offshore platforms are situated away from the Crimean coast and tourist areas. Crimean Senator Olga Kovitidi noted that the region targeted by Ukrainian forces lies about 71 kilometers from Odessa, with equipment positioned roughly 100 kilometers from the Crimean shoreline.
Kovitidi suggested that if the platforms had not vented gas in a timely fashion, the incident could have created a hazardous gas release with potential consequences extending to Odessa.
Aksyonov stated that the region is equipped with robust air defense systems and that the land corridor including the Crimean bridge has been closed. He underscored ongoing daily contact with colleagues from the Defense Ministry and the Southern Military District to monitor the situation. He also claimed that air defense capacity in the region remains ample.
The State-owned company Chornomorneftegaz primarily focuses on extracting natural gas and gas condensate. Its operations span offshore deposits in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, as well as resources on the Crimean peninsula’s land areas.
In a separate development, Crimean State Duma Deputy Mikhail Sheremet asserted that the attack on the drilling rigs could affect Russia’s room for maneuver, suggesting civil infrastructure incidents could influence Kremlin decision-making. He warned that those responsible for the strike would face consequences and indicated that Russia would respond comprehensively to the bombardment.
attack on oil depot
Earlier in April, Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that two Ukrainian airstrikes targeted a city oil depot, causing a fire that consumed eight fuel tanks. Officials stated that no injuries occurred, but families living on three streets near the facility were relocated to safer areas as a precautionary measure.
Volodymyr Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council International Committee, commented on a radio program that air defenses struggle to detect low-flying helicopters, a maneuver that complicates interceptions. He noted that helicopters can fly at very low altitudes, which challenges radar coverage that tends to monitor higher-altitude threats.
Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the oil-depot incident did not become a pretext for any ongoing negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations at that time.