Timeline: Strikes, fires and suspensions at Russia’s Ryazan oil refinerypublished at 12:44 GMT
12:44 GMT
Paul Brown
BBC Verify senior journalist
Image source, TelegramImage caption,
Verified footage from March this year shows smoke and an explosion at the refinery
As we reported earlier, verified video shows a fire at the Ryazan oil refinery in Russia following reports of a Ukrainian drone strike. The facility has been repeatedly targeted by Ukraine as part of an ongoing campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.
The refinery is operated by the state-run oil company Rosneft and contributes to supplying power for the Moscow region. Repeated drone strikes since January have resulted in frequent suspensions of activity, according to Reuters reporting.
If confirmed, this will be the eighth reported strike on the refinery this year and the second this week.
Here’s a timeline of what we know:
23-24 January: Ukraine says it targeted the refinery as part of a drone strikes across multiple regions. Verified footage shows fire burning and smoke billowing into the air.
25-26 January: The Ukrainian military says it has been hit by drones again. Some operations are suspended, according to Reuters.
23 February: Reuters reports all operations have been suspended following a strike. Nasa satellites detect fires on the southern edge of the site.
23 March: Verified footage shows smoke rising from the refinery, followed by an explosion. The sounds of gunfire and the buzz of a drone in the background suggest air defences are operating before the blast.
21 May: Nasa detects fires at the refinery following reports of drone strikes.
5 September: The commander of Ukraine’s drone forces says the refinery has been hit again. Multiple fires are detected by Nasa satellites.
15 November: Operations are again suspended following a drone strike, Reuters reports.