Russia Blames Debris Again After Fifth Fire at Key Refinery Supplying Its Army

Ukraine’s military confirmed it struck the Afipsky oil refinery in southern Russia—the same plant that has caught fire five times this year. The facility, located near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, is a major fuel supplier for Russian forces invading Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s armed forces. Moscow, however, continues to attribute the repeated blazes to falling debris or technical faults, not to Ukrainian attacks. The latest fire broke out overnight, forcing the plant to halt operations. Local officials reported no casualties but did not explain the cause. This pattern—repeated fires at the same strategic site, each time blamed on debris—has drawn growing skepticism from military analysts. The Afipsky refinery processes crude oil into diesel and aviation fuel, both critical for Russian military logistics. Ukraine has increasingly targeted fuel depots and refineries deep inside Russian territory to disrupt supply lines, even as Moscow denies the strikes’ effectiveness. Each fire at Afipsky has caused significant damage, but Russia has not released independent damage assessments. The refinery’s repeated failures raise questions about the reliability of Russia’s fuel supply for its frontline units. For now, the fifth fire adds another layer of doubt to Moscow’s official narrative—and another logistical headache for its army.