The Daily Populous Sunday September 7th, 2025 evening edition
Authored by kyivindependent.com and submitted by AdSpecialist6598

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Ukrainian forces struck the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai and the "8-N" oil pipeline control station near the village of Naitopovichi in Bryansk Oblast, Ukraine's General Staff confirmed on Sept. 7.

Both facilities are involved in supplying fuel to Russian troops invading Ukraine, according to the General Staff.

In recent months, Ukrainian forces have intensified attacks against Russia's energy infrastructure in an effort to put economic pressure on Moscow and undermine its ability to finance the war.

The "8-N" control station sustained multiple strikes, with a fire erupting near its pumping station and tank farm, according to Ukraine's military.

The strike was conducted overnight on Sept. 7 by Ukraine's Missile Forces and Artillery and the Unmanned Systems Forces, in coordination with other branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The facility is part of the "Steel Horse" oil pipeline complex, which has a pumping capacity of 10.5 million tons and is considered strategically important for transporting fuel to Russian forces, according to the General Staff.

Ukraine's top drone warfare commander, Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, said the "8-N" facility is also strategically important for transporting oil products from Belarusian refineries to Russia, particularly from the Mozyr and Novopolotsk plants.

0:00 / 1× Footage of the Ukrainian strike and its aftermath at the "8-H" production line control station near Naitopovichi, Bryansk Oblast, on Sept. 7, 2025. (Robert Brovdi / Telegram)

Explosions and a fire were also reported at the Ilsky oil refinery, which processes 6.42 million tons of oil annually and supplies the Russian military, according to the General Staff.

The strike was carried out by the Special Operations Forces. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, the statement read.

Located roughly 500 kilometers (311 miles) from Ukrainian-controlled territory, the refinery is among the largest in southern Russia, producing over 6 million tons of fuel annually.

Reports of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities surfaced on Russian social media prior to an official confirmation. Photos and videos circulating on social media appeared to show a large fire rising from the refinery in Krasnodar Krai.

Officials in the Krasnodar Krai previously claimed that a technological workshop had caught fire at the refinery, adding that no casualties had been reported.

Beyond targeting oil infrastructure, Ukraine's General Staff said Ukrainian forces also struck Russian personnel positions and logistics depots in Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine has intensified long-range strikes against Russian energy facilities, targeting refineries and depots to cut into Moscow's war funding.

Kyiv has previously struck the Ilsky Oil Refinery on multiple occasions — most recently on July 7 when a drone struck one of the facility's technological workshops, a source in Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.

Krasnodar Krai, a strategic region along Russia's Black Sea coast, has increasingly come under Ukrainian drone attacks as Kyiv extends the range of its strikes deep into Russian territory.

In August alone, Ukraine struck at least 12 refineries, shutting down facilities representing over 17% of national processing capacity, or 1.1 million barrels per day.

publicsaxophone on September 7th, 2025 at 15:01 UTC »

Scott Galloway on Pivot podcast last Friday: "...The Ukrainians have come up with a flamingo missile that can go deep into Russian territory. And there's one number that matters. 17, 17% of Russia's energy infrastructure has been damaged... [if that] number goes to 27 and maybe 30, Putin shows up with a different attitude because this is an economy, it's basically a ... gas station posing as an economy.... figure out a way to take that 17 number up a half a percent every week for the next six months. And then all of a sudden Putin's gonna change his tune..."

raresanevoice on September 7th, 2025 at 13:31 UTC »

Maybe putin shouldn't have invaded Ukraine?

He can end the war at any time

steve_ample on September 7th, 2025 at 13:15 UTC »

More oil shortages, please.