DISINFO: Refineries exploded throughout Spain during the blackout

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

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Cyber Energy gas

DISINFO: Refineries exploded throughout Spain during the blackout

SUMMARY

During the massive blackout in Spain, several refineries exploded. Suspicions of a massive cyberattack continue growing.

RESPONSE

The claim is false, possibly an attempt to increase confusion around the massive blackout that affected Spain and Portugal on 28 April 2025 for destabilising purposes.

While the video accompanying this disinformation story is real, and fires and smoke emerging from refineries caused some alarm among citizens in several places in Spain, this was a standard security practice as remnants of gas were burnt. No explosions were reported.

At the moment this disinformation story appeared, the cause of the blackout remained unknown. A cyberattack is only one among many other possibilities, but is seen as very remote by experts, as no evidence pointing in this direction has emerged so far.

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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