The fire at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in the Rostov region occurred due to the impact of two drones, the press service of the enterprise reported. 

“As a result of terrorist actions from the western border of the Rostov region, two unmanned aerial vehicles attacked the technological facilities of the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Products Plant joint-stock company, which resulted in an explosion with the formation of a fire,” the statement says.

The press service clarified that the first blow - at 8:40 - was delivered on the technological equipment of the ELOU-AVT-2.5 (I) oil refining unit.

As a result, the depressurization of the air coolers occurred, followed by the release of hydrocarbon gas, an explosion and the spread of fire to the nearby equipment of the installation.

The fire was extinguished by the operational services of the NZNP and the Russian Emergencies Ministry. 

The company clarified that the process equipment of the CDU-AVT-2.5 (I) unit was stopped, the CDU-AVT-2.5 (II) oil processing unit was transferred to cold circulation.

The second blow, the press service added, was inflicted at 09:23 on the facilities of the crude oil tank farm and hit between the square of the tanks and the earthen dump, there was no ignition.

“As a result of the UAV wreckage, the equipment of the tank farm received mechanical damage.

At present, the personnel of NZNP JSC has been evacuated, the process equipment has been stopped to assess the damage caused.

There were no casualties," the statement said.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, information about the fire at the plant was received at 09:25 Moscow time.

The fire was completely extinguished at 10:50 Moscow time.

The involvement of drones in the fire at the NZNP was also reported by the governor of the Rostov region Vasily Golubev.

He confirmed that fragments of two UAVs were found on the territory of the plant.

“There were no casualties, the staff was evacuated.

The work of the plant is suspended.

Investigations are underway.

After they are completed, specialists will assess the damage and the ability to resume the activities of the enterprise as soon as possible,” the head of the region said.

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation announced the initiation of a criminal case "on the fact of explosions and fires in production facilities" on the territory of the plant. 

“As part of the criminal case, the necessary examinations have been appointed.

All the circumstances of this crime are being established, as well as the persons involved in the incident, ”the department concluded.

Attacks on drilling platforms in the Black Sea

On June 20, the Ukrainian military launched three strikes on the drilling platforms of Chornomorneftegaz located in the Black Sea.

The head of the Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said that there were 109 people on the towers.

He added that the incident did not affect the supply of gas to the peninsula, it is being carried out as usual. 

Olga Kovitidi, a member of the Federation Council from Crimea, noted that the consequences of the shelling of the platforms by the Armed Forces of Ukraine could threaten Ukraine, and not Russia, since the platforms are closer to Odessa and the threat of an explosion poses a danger to the city.

Kovitidi added that development at the field will not be suspended, gas from the pipes has been released.

In turn, the Ambassador of the Lugansk People's Republic in Russia, Rodion Miroshnik, called the attack by the Ukrainian side on drilling platforms state terrorism.

Shelling of the border regions of the Russian Federation

Since the beginning of the Russian special operation to protect the Donbass, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have shelled the territories of the regions of the Russian Federation located on the border with Ukraine several times.

Thus, the Kursk region, where the yellow level of terrorist danger has been operating since April 11 due to possible provocations at the border, has been repeatedly shelled. 

In mid-May, a man was killed during the shelling of the village of Tyotkino.

Also, the Ukrainian side several times opened fire on settlements in the Belgorod region - the yellow level of terrorist danger also operates in the region.

At the end of May, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired at the SM Agro oil production enterprise - its director Andrey Yegorov said that electrical wiring was damaged by shrapnel, power cables burned out.

Warehouses and preparatory production buildings in the village of Politotdelsky were also damaged.

Egorov noted that grain storage with an area of ​​about 3.6 thousand square meters.

m requires a complete restoration.

The Investigative Committee of Russia opened several criminal cases on the facts of the shelling of Russian territory.

“Investigators of the Russian Investigative Committee will give a comprehensive legal assessment of the criminal actions of Ukrainian militants,” the department noted.