Key Developments on Sept. 20-21:
- Ukraine targets oil refineries in Russia’s Saratov and Samara regions, per military confirmation.
- Russian drones attack oil and transport infrastructure in Chernihiv Oblast.
- Pro-Ukrainian partisans claim to have sabotaged a railway linked to a Russian aerospace plant.
- Ukraine introduces a significant new sea drone, posing a threat to Russia’s Crimean Bridge.
- Three Russian Mi-8 helicopters and a radar station were destroyed in occupied Crimea, according to Ukraine’s HUR.
On the night of Sept. 20, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that attacks were made on two oil refineries in Russia’s Saratov and Samara regions. This aligns with previous reports circulating on social media from locals in Russia.
The General Staff reported damage to a primary transport infrastructure in Samara, noting that explosions and fires occurred, with assessments still pending. They emphasized that the targeted facilities are crucial for supplying the Russian military.
“The Defense Forces of Ukraine are persistently working to weaken the military and economic capabilities of the aggressor. This includes disrupting the Russian Federation’s logistical channels in oil refining and disrupting fuel supplies to its armed forces,” they stated.
As Kyiv intensifies its efforts against Russian oil and gas infrastructure—vital for Moscow’s war efforts—a drone strike reportedly hit an oil refinery just outside Saratov, resulting in significant explosions and fires visible in local footage. The city’s governor confirmed that a residential area sustained damage during the attack.
In a related note, Russian drones targeted a military oil depot in Bakhmach, Chernihiv Oblast, causing further damage. Preliminary reports suggested no casualties, but multiple train delays were reported due to the strike.
Additionally, on Sept. 21, pro-Ukrainian partisans claimed responsibility for sabotaging a railway leading to an aerospace facility in Smolensk, undermining the production of missiles for the Russian Ministry of Defense.
