A court docket in Moscow has for the primary time ordered Yandex to dam entry to maps and images of the infrastructure of one in all Russia's largest oil refineries because of the risk of assaults by Ukrainian drones.
Supply: The Moscow Occasions, citing Kremlin-aligned Russian information company TASS
Particulars: The court docket ruling mandates that Yandex has one month to "prohibit informational entry" to the infrastructure of the refinery by eradicating or retouching photos of its parts – comparable to workshops, compressor stations, tank fields, and different elements of the plant – from Yandex Maps.
The lawsuit was filed by a "supervisory authority" conducting checks on defence-industrial sector laws, which found publicly accessible details about the refinery’s services.
The lawsuit factors out that the refinery in query "operates repeatedly, assembly the wants of the Russian navy and navy in the course of the particular navy operation [as the war against Ukraine is called in Russia – ed.]". It additionally notes that the refinery has been attacked 4 instances by Ukrainian drones in 2024, inflicting injury to its infrastructure and accidents to its staff.
Earlier than approaching the court docket, the supervisory authority tried to resolve the problem instantly with Yandex, however to no avail. The court docket dominated that open entry to maps and pictures of the refinery "undermines the nation’s defence capabilities" and "negatively impacts the well timed provide of supplies" to the Russian military. Yandex was additionally fined with a state responsibility.
In 2024, Ukraine centered on focusing on Russia's gasoline and vitality sector. In response to the Monetary Occasions, by October, no less than 9 out of Russia's 32 largest refineries, along with oil depots, had been hit. The height of those assaults occurred in Might, when, in keeping with Sergey Vakulenko of the Carnegie Eurasia Middle, 17% of the nation's oil refining capability was knocked out.
The court docket ruling particularly issues the Ryazan Oil Refinery, a part of Rosneft. This refinery processes 17.1 million tonnes of oil yearly and is likely one of the major suppliers of motor gasoline to areas round Moscow.
On account of the Ukrainian drone assaults, oil refining volumes in Russia are anticipated to hit a 12-year low in 2024, dropping to 266.9 million tonnes – 8.1 million tonnes lower than the earlier yr, in keeping with Reuters.
Background: Primarily based on the 2024 outcomes, oil refining at Russian refineries is predicted to succeed in 266.9 million tonnes, factoring in December tendencies. This marks a lower of 8.1 million tonnes in comparison with 2023, reflecting a 3.2% drop in every day manufacturing.
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