Russian Drone Attacks Target Ukrainian Fuel Logistics Infrastructure

Russia has escalated its assaults on Ukrainian fuel logistics infrastructure, with a recent focus on the Triton Oil Depot in southern Ukraine. The largest terminal in the region, Triton Oil Depot, was subjected to intense drone attacks, resulting in significant damage and a tanker caught in the crossfire.

The vessel involved in the attack was the Excellion, a product tanker with a capacity of 7,842 deadweight tons (dwt). Arriving from Sulina, Romania on August 19, the tanker was fully loaded, likely with diesel fuel. Operated by Makoil Group of the UK and managed from Estonia, the Excellion fell victim to the drone assault while undergoing offloading operations at the Port of Izmail.

Reports from Russian sources indicate that the drone attack commenced while the tanker was docked, causing at least 20 direct hits and triggering around 30 explosions, resulting in a massive fire that raged for over an hour. The Eastern Berth, where the vessel was moored, sustained substantial damage due to the pressurized fuel transfer operations.

Although official reports confirmed the attack on the terminal, casualties were limited to one injury. However, local authorities dispatched 54 rescuers and 16 units to combat the fires and explosions that ensued.

(Image source: SSE)

According to Russian accounts, six large storage tanks at the Triton Oil Depot were targeted, with two of them reportedly destroyed and a third damaged during the attack. Additional infrastructure, such as fuel transfer systems and pumping stations, also suffered extensive harm.

Triton Oil Depot plays a vital role in Ukraine’s fuel supply chain, handling up to 20,000 tons of products weekly. The facility is crucial for fuel distribution, with Russia alleging its use in supplying Ukrainian troops in the disputed eastern regions.

The assault on Triton Oil Depot was part of a broader wave of attacks across Ukraine, including strikes in Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Okhtyrka. In addition to targeting fuel facilities, Russia also hit the SOCAR facility near Odesa and the oil refining and gas transportation infrastructure in the Poltava region.