**Russia’s Oil Refinery Set Ablaze by Drone Attack, But Quickly Put Out**
A devastating fire broke out at the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, but was quickly extinguished by local emergency services. The cause of the blaze? Debris from a Ukrainian drone that had been shot down by Russian air defense systems overnight.
According to reports, nine Ukrainian drones were brought down over the region, with one piece of debris apparently causing the fire at the Afipsky refinery. While it’s not clear what damage was done to the facility, which processes 7.2 million metric tons of crude oil each year, market sources say that the disruption could lead to lower use of crude – and potentially more oil being exported from Russia.
**Ukraine’s Drone Attacks on Russian Oil Infrastructure Continue**
This is just the latest in a series of drone attacks carried out by Ukraine against Russian oil refineries, pumping stations, and ports used for oil and gas exports. It’s a clear strategy to disrupt Russia’s energy trade and put pressure on its economy.
In fact, two other Russian refineries – the Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk facilities operated by Rosneft – have already halted operations due to Ukrainian drone attacks. Repairs are expected to take about a month, which will likely lead to a shortage of crude oil in Russia’s western ports.
**Russia Increases Oil Exports as Refineries Cut Runs**
Despite these disruptions, Russia plans to increase its oil exports from its western ports by nearly 200,000 barrels per day in August. This is because the two refineries that were affected have cut their runs due to Ukrainian drone attacks, leaving them with more crude oil to export.
The question on everyone’s mind now is: how will these disruptions affect global oil markets? Will Russia’s increased exports lead to higher prices, or will other countries find ways to meet demand?
**What’s Next for Global Oil Markets?**
As the world watches this developing situation, one thing is clear: Ukraine’s drone attacks are having a significant impact on Russia’s energy trade. But what about the global implications? Will we see changes in oil prices, or are there other factors at play?
Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the stakes are high for both Russia and Ukraine – as well as for the rest of us who rely on their energy resources.
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