In Russia\u2019s Rostov region, the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery \u2014 one of the largest in the country\u2019s south \u2014 has been burning for a third day following an attack by Ukrainian drones.<\/p>\n
This is confirmed by satellite images from NASA FIRMS and reports from local media, according to the Telegram channel Astra<\/a>, cited by Ukrinform.<\/p>\n Residents of Novoshakhtinsk commented on the Telegram channel of the city\u2019s mayor, Serhiy Bondarenko, complaining that the air is difficult to breathe due to the fire and that refinery workers are not being allowed to leave their posts despite the emergency.<\/p>\n On Friday, Bondarenko reported that nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide levels remained within regulatory limits, and radiation levels were also normal.<\/p>\n On Saturday afternoon, Bondarenko said firefighting efforts were ongoing and described the situation as \u201cdifficult,\u201d later adding that by evening, due to a \u201cshift in wind direction,\u201d concentrations of hazardous substances in the air \u201ccould worsen,\u201d according to The Moscow Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n Early on August 23, Rostov region Minister of Housing and Communal Services Antonina Pshenychnaya reported that in Krasny Sulin, a town of 35,000 about 30 km from Novoshakhtinsk, water supply had been cut off to help manage the \u201cemergency situation at one of the enterprises in Novoshakhtinsk.\u201d She added, \u201cWater supply will be restored after reservoir levels are filled and the pipeline is pressurized.\u201d<\/p>\n The Novoshakhtinsk refinery, which began operations in 2009, accounted for 1.7% of Russia\u2019s refining capacity before the Ukrainian drone attacks, producing 5.6 million tons of petroleum products. Ukrainian drones first targeted the facility in June 2022, and the latest strike, which caused the current fire, occurred overnight on August 21.<\/p>\n