On the night of June 17-18, the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck Russian oil bases in the Rostov region and Krasnodar Krai with domestically produced Neptune missiles, according to a report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
As reported, sources in the Ukrainian Navy told Suspilne that the military has used domestically produced Neptune anti-ship missiles for the second time against a ground target in the territory of the aggressor state.
ISW analysts suggest that the Defense Forces targeted the oil terminal of Yugneftekhimtransit LLC in the port town of Chushka in Krasnodar Krai and likely used modified missiles to strike ground targets. According to residents, the fire damaged pipelines and areas with engineering or technical equipment.
The Russian authorities have not confirmed the strike, but the Russian Ministry of Defense stated on June 18 that the Russian military intercepted a Ukrainian Neptune missile in an unspecified area on June 17.
Sources in the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) informed Ukrainian media that Ukrainian forces struck the oil terminals Azovska and Azovnaftoprodukt in Azov, Rostov region, with drones, and geolocation videos show that the resulting fire lasted from the night of June 17 to June 18.
The Rostov region administration reported that oil tanks caught fire as a result of the strikes.
Sources in the SSU stated that these oil bases have a total of 22 tanks, and the Crimean Service of Radio Vilna Yevropa/Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL) reported that up to 60 tons of oil products pass through these bases per month, and the tanks can simultaneously hold up to 30,000 cubic meters of oil products.
Attacks on Russian oil depots
On the night of Tuesday, June 18, explosions were heard in the village of Chushka in the Temryuk district of the Krasnodar Krai, and a fire broke out at a local oil base.
Additionally, on the night of June 18, drones attacked an oil base in the city of Azov in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation. The fire raged over an area of 5,000 cubic meters.
According to sources, the attacks on the oil bases in the Russian Federation were organized by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU).