Ukraine launched long-range drone attacks on Russia Day, striking major oil refining facilities in Tatarstan and Samara region and forcing airspace restrictions.
In a Telegram report on Friday, June 12, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed strikes on two refineries in Tatarstan and a plant in Tolyatti:
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“Units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine in the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation struck the Taneko and Taif-NK oil refineries in Nizhnekamsk.”
“The Defense Forces of Ukraine will continue to systematically reduce the Russian aggressor’s capabilities to wage war against Ukraine,” the report added.
Hits on the targets, as well as fires on the territory of both enterprises, have now been confirmed.
However, earlier reports from monitoring Telegram channels claiming that one of the country’s largest petrochemical plants, Nizhnekamskneftekhim, had been struck were not confirmed by the General Staff.
The Nizhnekamsk Taneko oil refinery, owned by Tatneft, is one of the largest oil refining enterprises in Russia, with a design processing capacity of more than 16 million tons of oil per year.
The enterprise produces a wide range of fuels and lubricants, including diesel fuel, aviation fuel, and other petroleum products.
Video footage showed two large fires with thick black smoke. According to preliminary data of monitoring channels, two AVT units – key primary oil refining facilities – as well as a tank farm, were damaged.
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Taif-NK is a major oil refining complex distinguished by its extremely high depth of oil processing. Following the launch of its Deep Processing Complex for Heavy Residues, this figure is reportedly above 95%.
The enterprise processes heavy high-sulfur oil and gas condensate. The plant’s products are divided into several key segments, ranging from bulk fuel to specialized raw materials for petrochemical and military needs.
Additionally, a drone was reported to have struck a 12-story residential building, injuring three people. Nizhnekamsk Mayor Radmir Belyaev announced that all city celebrations for Russia Day, celebrated on June 12, had been canceled.
Tatarstan Head Rustam Minnikhanov confirmed that drones had reached the Trans-Kama region, adding that “the enterprises targeted are promptly addressing the consequences.”
The General Staff also confirmed a strike on the Togliattikauchuk plant in the Samara region, which specializes in the production of synthetic rubbers – used, in particular, in the further production of solid rocket fuel for tactical and ballistic missiles – as well as monomers, fractions, and high-octane gasoline additives.
“The target was hit and a fire on the territory of the plant has been confirmed,” the report added.
A “Carpet” regime was also in effect in the region, temporarily closing airspace at all altitudes.
According to Telegram monitoring channels, Togliatti residents heard loud explosions for at least 40 minutes, some of which shook their windows. Reports of black clouds of smoke also appeared on social media.
Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev reported that no one was injured in the drone attack on the region.
Moscow Mayor Sobyanin also reported on Telegram that air defense systems destroyed seven drones flying toward Moscow.
“Emergency services are working at the crash site,” he wrote.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that on the night of June 12, air defense forces “intercepted and destroyed” 231 Ukrainian drones.
According to the ministry, the drones were shot down over the aforementioned regions, as well as over the Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Rostov, Saratov, Smolensk, Tula, and Ulyanovsk regions, the Moscow region, and occupied Crimea.
Following updated data on the Kuibyshev oil refinery in the Samara region, which was struck on June 10, Ukraine’s General Staff also confirmed that the AVT-4 and AVT-5 primary oil processing units and the RVS-2000 storage tank were hit.
“The plant has stopped operating,” the report added.
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