On June 21, 2024, more than 100 drones carried out a mass strike targeting occupied Crimea, Krasnodar Krai, and Volgograd Oblast, reported Russian authorities. The attacks led to one fatality and seven injuries. Russian sources indicated fires erupted at Krasnodar Krai's Yeysk military airfield and the Ilya oil refinery following these drone strikes.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported the downing of 70 drones over Crimea, 43 over Krasnodar Krai, and 1 over Volgograd Oblast. Additionally, six naval drones were neutralized in the northwestern Black Sea region.
Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratyev noted that a bus station employee was among the casualties, and four others were injured. A 50-square-meter fire was reported at the Ilya refinery, injuring two employees.
Recent drone strikes by Ukrainian forces have targeted Russia's oil facilities, including attacks in May that disrupted operations at the Slavyansk-on-Kuban and Tuapse refineries in Krasnodar Krai. Ukraine has yet to comment on the latest incidents.
The conflict, now in its third year, has seen continued aerial bombardments from both sides, affecting infrastructure critical to military and civilian operations. Notably, attacks on Ukraine’s power grids have resulted in extensive blackouts, impacting energy supplies across the country. On the Russian side, drone strikes have increasingly targeted oil depots and refineries, with multiple incidents reported in recent months.