The oil refinery in Samara, situated on the site of the former Kuibyshev Oil Refinery, faced a drone strike in the night of March 23. The incident forced AVT-5, one of the two principal refining units, to halt operations, according to the agency and corroborated by industry sources. Reuters reports the event and its impact on the facility.
Industry representatives declined to comment on the damage from the drone, and local media coverage was minimal. Nevertheless, regional governor Dmitry Azarov confirmed in his Telegram channel that a fire occurred in the refinery’s primary oil column, though he noted that the equipment itself remained undamaged. Reuters provides further context on the incident and its consequences for regional energy infrastructure.
Earlier, the Kursk region announced measures that heightened the risk perception of UAV attacks. The regional governor Roman Starovoyt stated that a regime had been put in place to address the threat, aiming to improve preparedness and response capabilities. Reuters coverage notes the broader pattern of increased security threats in neighboring areas and the implications for regional safety.
In related steps, the Kursk regional government introduced an SMS notification system to alert residents in emergencies related to UAV activity. This precautionary measure reflects ongoing efforts to enhance public communication and situational awareness in the face of evolving security challenges, as reported by Reuters.
Russian authorities have cited the ongoing attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a key factor driving regional security concerns in Belgorod and Kursk. The broader strategic dynamics have prompted authorities to communicate risk levels and to tighten defense measures in border regions, according to Reuters.