Published
19/02/2026 às 08:31
An oil refinery located in Velikiye Luki, in the Pskov region of northwestern Russia, was hit during a Drone offensive attributed to Ukraine.
The attack caused a fire in a fuel depot, local authorities confirmed.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the country’s forces “intercepted and destroyed 113 Ukrainian drones” during the early morning hours.
See also other features
A man digging a well for water in Ceará found a black liquid that caught fire, sparking suspicion of being petroleum. The community is in shock while IFCE (Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Ceará) analyzes samples, and the story goes viral in the backlands.
Is Cuba experiencing genocide due to Trump’s sanctions? The Cuban ambassador to Brazil affirms that it is, since the oil blockade completely affects the lives of the population, preventing access to energy, schools, transportation, and healthcare services.
More than US$10 billion a year: that’s the expected profit for the United States, under the Trump administration, from Venezuelan oil; the country, now governed by Delcy Rodríguez, is once again attracting attention as the largest asset in South America.
How the proposed debt-for-asset swap could boost Petrobras’ return to Venezuela and redefine Brazil’s presence in the international oil market.
Nevertheless, one of the targets hit was precisely the structure linked to the oil refinery in the city of Velikiye Luki.
The regional governor, Mikhail Vedernikov, reported that the impact caused a “fire in a fuel depot.”
According to initial reports, no injuries were reported. Despite this, the incident increased tensions in an area that is strategically important for Russian energy supplies.
Attacks amid negotiations considered “difficult”
The attack occurred shortly after a new round of international negotiations held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Representatives from Moscow, Kiev, and Washington participated in the meetings, which aimed to find a way out of the four-year war.
The talks, held on Tuesday and Wednesday, were described as “difficult” by both Russian and Ukrainian officials.
At the end of the meetings, no concrete progress was announced. The diplomatic climate was already delicate. The drone strike only amplified the sense of stalemate.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues with frequent attacks from both sides. Ukraine, which has suffered almost daily Russian bombings for the past four years, has intensified its targeted actions against strategic Russian infrastructure.
Among the main targets are oil refineries, port facilities, and energy infrastructure.
Oil refinery becomes a sensitive point in the energy war.
The choice of an oil refinery as a target is not random. This type of facility is essential for transforming crude oil into fuels used in transportation, industry, and power generation.
By affecting depots and structures in this sector, the impact can extend beyond the military field and reach the economy.
In recent months, attacks on Russian oil refineries have been reported with increasing frequency.
The strategy seeks to put financial pressure on Moscow and affect its logistical capabilities. On the other hand, Russia claims to have expanded its air defense systems to neutralize drone attacks.
The Russian Ministry of Defense highlighted the destruction of 113 drones in just one night. The number is striking and demonstrates the scale of the operation.
Even with the interception, the fire recorded in Velikiye Luki shows that some of the attacks managed to overcome the defensive barriers.
The escalation is causing concern and increasing uncertainty.
The incident reinforces the climate of instability that marks the conflict. Beyond the military impact, the attack on the oil refinery could also have repercussions in the energy market and increase internal political pressure.
Although there is no confirmation of major structural damage, the mere fact that a strategic facility was hit already raises an alarm.
In a context of fragile and stalled negotiations, each new attack tends to further distance any immediate possibility of a truce.
Given this scenario, the question that remains is simple and direct: how far can attacks against oil refineries take this conflict, and what could the consequences be for the global economy?