Ukrainian forces struck the Olya seaport in Russia’s Astrakhan region, hitting a ship loaded with Shahed drone components and ammunition from Iran, according to Friday’s General Staff report.
According to the statement, Special Operations Forces (SSO), in coordination with other units of the Defense Forces, on Thursday, Aug. 14, targeted the port to reduce Russia’s capacity to launch airstrikes.
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Olya serves as a key logistics hub for importing military supplies from Iran. The vessel struck was the Port Olya 4, reportedly carrying UAV parts and munitions. The battle damage assessment (BDA) is ongoing.
Meanwhile, early Friday morning, Aug. 15, suspected Ukrainian drones attacked an oil refinery in Syzran, Samara region.
Residents reported hearing up to 10 explosions from 4 a.m. Several Telegram channels shared footage and photos showing fires near the facility, although Russian officials have yet to confirm any damage.
Ukraine has not made any statements at the time of publication.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on Telegram that its air defenses intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones overnight, including:
11 over the Rostov region 6 over the Belgorod region 4 each over the Bryansk and Voronezh regions 1 each over the Saratov region, Kalmykia, and the Sea of Azov.
Ukrainian forces have hit a string of major oil and gas sites in Russia over the past five days, dealing fresh blows to the country’s energy infrastructure and military lines of communications, i.e., its logistics routes.
In the early hours of Thursday, Aug. 14, Ukrainian drones struck the LUKOIL-Volgogradneftepererabotka refinery in Russia’s Volgograd region, sparking a large fire.
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Governor Andrey Bocharov said falling debris from downed drones caused oil products to ignite, though no casualties were reported.
The facility, Russia’s largest in the Southern Federal District, processes about 5.6% of the country’s crude oil and produces diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel for the military.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the attack, saying units from the Unmanned Systems Forces and military intelligence (HUR) carried out the strike. NASA FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System) satellites detected a large-scale fire.
A day earlier, on Aug. 13, Ukrainian kamikaze drones hit the Unecha oil pumping station in the Bryansk region – the largest hub of the 9,000-kilometer Druzhba pipeline network. According to HUR sources, the facility is vital for supplying Russia’s military-industrial complex.
On Aug. 10, HUR also struck the Lukoil-Ukhtaneftepererabotka refinery in the Komi Republic, more than 2,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Kyiv has not disclosed the full extent of the damage, but officials say such operations aim to undermine Russia’s fuel production and war effort.
This ongoing news story will be updated as more information becomes available.