**Russia’s Oil Refinery Hit by Drone Attack, Fire Extinguished**
A fire that broke out at the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region has been put out. The blaze was caused by debris from a drone that had been shot down by Russian air defense systems. According to local emergency services, the fire was extinguished on Thursday.
**Russia’s Defense Against Ukraine**
The Russian Defence Ministry reported that nine Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Krasnodar region overnight. The Ukrainian military confirmed that its drone units had targeted the Afipsky refinery in the region, but did not provide further details. This attack is part of a series of drone strikes carried out by Ukraine against Russian oil refineries and other critical infrastructure.
**Impact on Oil Exports**
The disruption at the Afipsky refinery may lead to lower crude oil use, potentially increasing Russia’s exports in August. Market sources believe that this could add extra barrels to Russia’s oil exports, as two other refineries, operated by Rosneft, have halted operations after being targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks.
**Russia’s Plan to Increase Oil Exports**
Russia plans to increase its oil exports from western ports to nearly 2 million barrels per day in August. This is an increase of 200,000 barrels per day compared to previous estimates. The increased export capacity comes as two refineries, the Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk refineries, have halted operations due to Ukrainian drone attacks.
**Commentary**
The attack on the Afipsky refinery highlights the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have been using drones to target each other’s critical infrastructure, including oil refineries and ports used for oil exports. This escalation in tensions is likely to continue, with both countries increasing their military capabilities and attacks.
**Analysis**
The impact of this attack on global oil markets will be closely watched. If Russia does increase its oil exports, it could have significant implications for the global market. On the other hand, if the disruption at the Afipsky refinery continues, it may lead to a decrease in crude oil use, potentially affecting Russia’s oil exports and the global market.
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