U.S. severed ties with Belarusian oil supply, distinct from Russian oil.
In a series of nighttime attacks, drones targeted facilities of the Russian oil refining industry in the Bryansk and Volgograd regions on August 13, causing significant disruptions to oil supply.
The most notable attack took place at the linear production and dispatching station (LPDS) "Unecha" of the "Friendship" oil pipeline in the village of Vysokoe, Bryansk region. The drone strikes resulted in temporary halts of oil deliveries, fires, and infrastructure damage at the pumping station.
These attacks have repeatedly disrupted Russian oil flows through the key transit point of the Druzhba pipeline, impacting oil supply to Russia’s western customers, including Hungary, Slovakia, and Belarus.
Ukrainian drones have been confirmed to have targeted the Unecha oil pumping station multiple times in August 2025, with strikes on August 12, 13, 18, and 21-22. Each attack caused temporary suspension of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline, critical for supplying Russian crude oil to these countries.
The burning and damage to the infrastructure caused by these drone strikes challenge the operational safety and reliability of the pipeline, pushing oil wholesalers and downstream gas stations in Russia to face shortages and record-high gas prices.
Hungary and Slovakia have protested these Ukrainian attacks due to their direct impact on their national energy security, as these countries rely significantly on Russian oil transported via the Druzhba pipeline. Despite these disruptions, oil deliveries have at times resumed between the attacks after repairs, but ongoing strikes threaten longer-term stability of Russian and Belarusian oil supply via this route.
Local media outlet Astra reported on the nighttime explosions in Russia, with residents of the Bryansk region reporting repeated drone attacks on the city of Unecha and the district, specifically targeting the LPDS 'Unecha' in the village of Vysokoe.
In the event of continued attacks on Russian refineries, refineries in Novopolotsk and Mozyr could become important suppliers of gasoline to the Russian market. Russian oil is currently supplied to Belarusian refineries through the Unecha station.
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- The drone attacks, primarily on the Unecha oil pumping station in the Bryansk region, have not only disrupted politics surrounding war-and-conflicts but also caused general-news headlines about crime-and-justice, as they pose implications for politics, economy, and energy security of multiple countries.
- These drone strikes on Russian oil facilities, including the one at the Unecha LPDS, have stirred discussions in the realm of politics and general-news, while also bringing crime-and-justice into focus, as the attacks have led to consequences such as oil shortages, gas price hikes, and protests from affected countries.
