On May 24 (local time), the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that the country's forces had carried out an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack on the Vtorovo oil pumping and regulating station in Russia's Vladimir province.
According to the SBU, this is an important energy infrastructure operated by Transneft State Oil and Gas Group. The Vtorovo station is responsible for transshipping oil from oil refineries in central Russia to export ports and domestic consumption areas.
This facility is also said to be involved in supplying fuel to several major airports serving Moscow, including Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo.
The SBU said the attack was carried out on the night of May 23 to the morning of May 24 by UAV control units of the Alpha special forces. According to the Ukrainian side, the attack hit the target and caused a fire on an area of about 800 m2.
Currently, the Russian side has not made an official comment on this statement.
The attack took place in the context of escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On the same night of the attack, Russia launched a large-scale air strike targeting Kiev and the surrounding area with hundreds of UAVs and dozens of missiles.
According to Ukrainian officials, the attack damaged many residential areas, public works and civil infrastructure, killing at least 4 people and injuring nearly 100 others.
The SBU affirmed that Ukraine's attacks are only aimed at military targets or facilities that play a supporting role in Russia's military campaign.
In the past time, Ukraine has continuously used long-range UAVs manufactured domestically to attack oil and gas facilities, fuel depots and military targets on Russian territory. Kiev believes that these operations are aimed at disrupting the fuel supply chain, logistics operations and military capabilities of Moscow.
The head of the SBU, Mr. Yevhenii Khmara, said that Ukraine is preparing new special operations and the intensity of attacks on targets on Russian territory will continue to increase in the coming time.
