Victory Chronicles-DAY 791

According to a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), SBU drones successfully targeted and struck two oil depots in Russia’s Smolensk region. 

The attacks took place on April 24, destroying two fuel and lubricant storage and pumping facilities owned by Rosneft. These facilities stored about 26 thousand cubic meters of Russian fuels and lubricants. 

The SBU carried out the attacks as part of its ongoing efforts to counter Russian aggression against Ukraine. The SBU has previously stated that such facilities, which support the Russian defense industry and army, are legitimate targets for Ukraine.  The explosions caused significant fires and personnel were evacuated from the affected areas.

The European Union (EU) has disbursed the second tranche of macro-financial assistance amounting to 1.5 billion euros to Ukraine, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This follows the approval of a four-year program for Ukraine, which includes 33 billion euros in loans and 17 billion euros in grants. The first tranche of 4.5 billion euros was provided to Ukraine in March. Von der Leyen stated that this financial support is crucial to maintaining Ukraine’s public services and utilities while combating aggression. 

In a missile attack launched by Russians on Odesa, a 43-year-old woman was injured. The attack occurred on the morning of April 24, causing damage to approximately 30 houses, including broken windows and glass. Some houses also experienced collapsed ceilings. The woman who was wounded in the attack is currently in moderate condition and has been taken to the hospital. 

Oleh Kiper, the Head of the Odesa regional military administration, reported the details. Subsequently, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine released photos and videos showing the efforts to extinguish the resulting fires. 

The Strategic Communications Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has published a video of a combat flight by the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade pilots. “We are burning out the invading evil spirits from our land,” the StratCom commented on the video.

Ukrainian drone strikes and recent flooding in Russia have reportedly brought weekly Russian oil refining to an 11-month low, although the decrease in refining output has so far been marginal.

Bloomberg reported on April 22 that as of mid-April 2024 Russia processed 5.22 million barrels of crude oil per day, 10,000 fewer barrels than the average in early April. Russia has reportedly processed 1.23 million barrels of crude oil per day since January at refineries that Ukrainian forces previously struck with drones, a 280,000-barrel-per-day decrease from before Ukrainian forces started targeting Russian oil refineries in late January 2024.[30] Ukrainian drone strikes reportedly shut down 14 percent of Russia’s overall oil refining capacity as of April 2.

Flooding in Orenburg Oblast forced the Orsk oil refinery to go offline on April 7, but Reuters reported that the Orsk refinery resumed full operations on April 23. Decreased Russian refining capacity likely forced Russia to import gasoline from Kazakhstan and Belarus in early April to address shortages and attempt to prevent domestic gasoline prices from rising, although there are no indications that constraints on Russian gasoline production are significant to international market values.

Russian officials have noted that a reduction in primary oil refining in 2024 will likely lead to increases in Russian crude oil exports since Russia would not be able to refine as much as it usually does. Future Ukrainian drone strikes may disable and disrupt more of Russia’s refining capacity and inflict critical constraints on Russian refining that begin to substantially impact Russia’s production of distillate products. Ukrainian drone strikes have yet to significantly impact Russian refining production or the domestic Russian or international supply of crude oil and distillate products, however.

27-year-old fighter Oleksandr Kasatik, with the call sign Tyapa, died on June 12, 2023, in the village of Verbove, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. During a combat mission, he received injuries incompatible with life.

Oleksandr was born in the village of Petrivka, Mykolaiv Oblast, before his family moved to Stanislavchyk. He completed his education at the Marynivka Professional Agricultural Lyceum and had a lifelong passion for fishing. In the autumn of 2016, Oleksandr was conscripted for military service in Melitopol and joined the 25th separate airborne brigade, eventually signing on as a contracted soldier. Between 2018 and 2019, he served in the war in eastern Ukraine. From the outset of the full-scale invasion, he remained with his original unit until he was transferred to the 47th separate mechanized brigade, where he was designated as a reconnaissance operator in the reconnaissance platoon of the 1st mechanized battalion. Oleksandr also studied in Germany and deeply cherished his career.

“Oleksandr was a kind, sincere person, he never left anyone in trouble. He was brave, courageous, always moving forward. He dreamed of a big, happy family, but, unfortunately, he died before he could see it…” said his brother’s wife, Ilona Kasatik. 

Oleksandr was buried in the village of Stanislavchyk. The fighter is survived by his mother, twin brother and sister.

*Oleksandr’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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