The Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that they have carried out an attack on the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery located in the Rostov region using air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missiles. The Ukrainian General Staff shared this information on its official Telegram channel on Thursday, December 25.
According to Kyiv's statement, the strike precisely hit its target. “A successful attack was conducted on the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery using air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Multiple explosions were recorded, and the facility was struck,” the official information reads. The General Staff further stated that the facility is a critical infrastructure site supplying diesel fuel and aviation kerosene to meet the needs of the Russian army.
The Governor of the Rostov region, Yuri Slyusar, also confirmed that strikes occurred in the vicinity of the city of Novoshakhtinsk. Following the attack, explosions and fires were reported, with one firefighter sustaining injuries while battling the flames.
At present, the extent of the damage to the refinery has yet to be officially assessed. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Exilenova+ Telegram channel published video footage showing plumes of thick black smoke rising over the refinery. The footage indicates that a significant fire had broken out in the area.
Reports suggest that since the start of large-scale military operations, Ukraine has targeted the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery at least six times. The initial attack was recorded in March 2024. However, the current strike is particularly notable as it marks the first time Storm Shadow missiles have been used against this facility.
The Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery is located approximately 175 kilometers from Ukrainian-controlled territory. Additionally, it is known that Storm Shadow cruise missiles have a range exceeding 250 kilometers, which demonstrates Kyiv's capability to target deep infrastructural facilities behind enemy lines.
In summary, this strike on the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery is significant not only tactically but also from a logistical standpoint. Such attacks on energy and fuel supply infrastructure are intensifying pressure on the rear positions of the front.
