Ukraine Strikes Oil Depots in Crimea, Destroys $20M Air-Defense System

Ukraine has carried out drone strikes on two oil depots in Russian-occupied Crimea, destroying key military assets.

The coordinated attacks hit facilities in the villages of Hvardiiske and Komsomolske, triggering massive explosions and fires visible for miles, The Caspian Post reports via Ukrainian media.

According to the Ukrainian Security Service, the operation destroyed a Pantsir-S2 air-defense system valued at around $20 million, along with two radar stations.

Residents in Hvardiiske reported powerful blasts on October 29, with thick black smoke rising from an ATAN oil depot, the largest fuel network in Crimea - a site that had already been targeted twice in October.

Russian-installed official Sergey Aksyonov confirmed a drone strike in Simferopol, saying it ignited a fuel tank but caused no casualties.

The attack comes as Ukraine ramps up its drone campaign on Russian energy infrastructure, aiming to disrupt military logistics and fuel supplies. Similar strikes were reported overnight at oil and chemical facilities in Stavropol region and Ulyanovsk region.

Repeated drone assaults have already cut Russia’s oil product exports by more than 17 per cent in September, underscoring the growing impact of Ukraine’s precision strikes deep behind enemy lines.