On Monday, 8 September, a series of explosions in the Russian city of Penza disabled the only trunk oil pipeline system, sources in the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) told LB.
According to the sources, at least four explosions rocked the Zheleznodorozhnyy district of Penza at around 4 a.m. As a result, two pipes of the main gas pipeline with a capacity of 2 million barrels per day ceased to function. In addition, according to information from a source in Ukrainian intelligence, two more pipes of regional importance were damaged at the same location.
A few hours after the explosions, in order to conceal the real causes of the emergency, local media reported on alleged “planned exercises” at oil and gas facilities in conjunction with emergency and special services. Russian officials called on local residents to remain calm and not to react to information about the explosions in local public forums.
Sources in the DIU noted that both affected gas pipelines supplied military facilities of the Russian Federation involved in the war against Ukraine.