MOSCOW: Ukrainian drones attacked Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea coast, causing a significant fire, according to authorities.

This incident marks the latest in a series of repeated drone attacks over the past few weeks targeting both the Rosneft-owned refinery and the port of Tuapse, resulting in an oil spill at sea and extensive blazes that took several days to control.

The refinery, primarily focused on exporting oil products, had suspended operations since April 16 due to a previous drone attack, as reported by industry sources.

Ukraine has intensified its strikes against Russia since March, coinciding with the pause in US-brokered peace negotiations, during which Washington's focus shifted significantly toward the conflict involving Iran.

With an annual production capacity of approximately 12 million metric tons, or 240,000 barrels per day, the Tuapse refinery produces a variety of products including naphtha, diesel, fuel oil, and vacuum gasoil.

The impact of these disruptions on global energy markets remains under assessment.