Ukrainian forces struck two Russian oil refineries overnight, causing explosions and fires at the Novokuybyshevsky Refinery in the Samara region and the Saratov Refinery in the Saratov region, according to reports on September 20th. The strikes targeted facilities essential for gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil production. Separately, a top manager for a company supplying materials for Shahed drone production was found dead in Moscow, with Russian media reporting it as a suicide. The Ukrainian military's 14th OP BPAC of SBS claimed responsibility for the strikes on the Novokuybyshevsky and Saratov refineries, detailing that the facilities are located approximately 1000 km and 600 km from the Ukrainian border, respectively. OSINT analysis suggests the weapon used in a strike on an inoperable refinery in Luhansk was an FP-5 Flamingo. Meanwhile, Ukraine reported an earlier-than-usual launch of mixed UAV groups from the Bryansk region, with approximately 50 drones observed over Ukraine. Alexander Tyunin, head of Umatex Group, identified as Russia's sole carbon fiber producer and a key supplier for Shahed/Geran drones, was found dead near Moscow. Umatex's subdivision, Alabuga-Volokno, supplies raw materials for drone manufacturing. Russian media has characterized Tyunin's death as a suicide, adding to what some sources describe as a pattern of unexplained deaths among Russian officials and businessmen. This follows previous reports of Italian NATO fighters escorting Russian aircraft out of Estonian airspace on September 20th due to airspace violations, occurring amidst intensified Ukrainian drone campaigns and retaliatory Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine.
