A major fire broke out at the Orsk oil refinery in Russia’s Orenburg region after a reported drone strike overnight, more than 1,400 kilometers from the front line in Ukraine. The Ukrainian army confirmed that the facility was hit as part of efforts to disrupt Russia’s fuel supply for its army.

The strike marks one of Ukraine’s deepest attacks inside Russian territory, targeting energy infrastructure vital to Moscow’s war effort. Ukraine has intensified its drone campaign against refineries and fuel depots that supply Russia’s military and underpin its oil exports - a key source of revenue for the Kremlin. Kyiv says such strikes are meant to disrupt logistics, reduce Russia’s offensive potential, and pressure Moscow to end its invasion.

According to the General Staff, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck facilities at the Orsknefteorgsintez refinery in Orenburg Oblast on 11 November. 

The refinery reportedly produces over 30 types of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and lubricants, with an annual capacity of 6.6 million tons. It is involved in supplying Russia’s occupation forces, the statement said.

Explosions and a fire were recorded at the site, and one of the refinery’s primary oil distillation units was reportedly damaged.

The strike on Orsk followed confirmed hits on another refinery in Russia’s Saratov region earlier the same night.

Overnight on 11 November 2025, Ukrainian drones struck the Rosneft oil refinery in Saratov, situated in Russia's Volga region about 600 km from the war zone in Ukraine, according to reports by Ukrainian Telegram channels. The attack caused explosions and a large fire, footage from the scene shows. The Ukrainian Army's General Staff confirmed the attack on the refinery. Russian authorities reported damage to civilian infrastructureand claimed that one resident was allegedly injured.

The Saratov oil refinery is among the largest and oldest in Russia. As of 2024, it processed around 5.8 million tons of oil annually — about 2.2% of Russia's total refining capacity.

Ukrainian drones strike Rosneft refinery in Saratov overnight

In the early hours of 11 November, drones targeted the Rosneft-owned oil refinery in the Zavodskoi district of Saratov, Russia. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed the strike, citing the goal of reducing Russia's military-economic potential. The refinery is a key supplier of fuel products used by the Russian army, producing over 20 types of oil derivatives, including diesel and gasoline.

Witnesses in Saratov reported multiple explosions and flashes over the southwestern part of the city just after 1 a.m., followed by widespread sirens. Ukrainian Telegram channels Exilenova+ and Ukraine Context shared videos showing distant explosions and a large glow on the horizon.

Later footage revealed a massive blaze at the refinery site.

Russian authorities acknowledged the attack. Saratov Oblast governor Roman Busargin reported that "civilian infrastructure objects" were damaged and claimed that one woman was injured, though she did not require hospitalization. Windows were reportedly shattered in several homes in the Zavodskoi district.

The Russian Telegram channel Astra confirmed the refinery was the target after OSINT analysis of videos from the scene. Astra noted that this was at least the seventh drone strike on the Saratov refinery since the beginning of 2025. It could be the eighth attack, per the Militarnyi data.

The facility had also been last hit overnight on 2 to 3 November.

Saratov airport briefly suspended operations during the overnight attack. As of Astra’s latest update, the emergency response plan Kovyor was reactivated in the city.

Coordinated Ukrainian drone assault hits multiple targets

In addition to the Saratov refinery, Ukrainian forces also struck the Marine Oil Terminal in occupied Feodosia, Crimea, and Russian positions in the occupied part of Donetsk Oblast. According to the General Staff, drone strikes reached storage depots and personnel concentrations near Donetsk and the area of Ocheretyne. In Feodosia, they reported direct hits on storage tanks at the marine terminal — a critical hub for shipping fuel to Crimea and southern occupied territories.

The Ukrainian military emphasized that all these actions are part of a broader effort to disrupt Russian logistics and force Moscow to halt its war of aggression.

Russia claims drone interceptions, but fails to prevent refinery hit

Later on 11 November, Russia’s Defense Ministry alleged that 37 Ukrainian drones had been spotted over Russian territory overnight, claiming that eight were intercepted over Saratov Oblast.

Ukrainian naval drones struck the Russian port of Tuapse in the early hours of 10 November 2025, according to Astra. A ship reportedly caught fire, port infrastructure sustained damage, and residents described powerful explosions. Russian officials initially confirmed the drone boat attack but later deleted parts of their statements.

Drone boats hit Tuapse port, explosion filmed

Maritime drones attacked the port of Tuapse in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai overnight on 10 November. Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ published footage showing a nighttime explosion in the port area, followed by a separate video where a fire can be seen burning at a distance. In the second clip, a woman behind the camera says, “The ship is on fire.”

Another channel, Exilenova+, later shared better footage of the explosion.

Russian news Telegram channel Astra reported damage to one of the port’s piers. The same outlet cited local accounts of explosions and said the drone danger alert in Tuapse lasted nearly eight hours. A separate analysis from Dnipro Osint identified the likely impact site as pier 167, where a sea drone reportedly detonated. The analysis also mentioned possible damage to a nearby vessel.

Officials first confirmed drone strike, then erased it

The drone strike on Tuapse was initially confirmed by local Russian officials. According to Militarnyi, Sergei Boiko, head of the Tuapse municipal district in Krasnodar Krai, stated in an official message that the port had been attacked by unmanned surface vessels. However, Boiko later edited his statement, removing all references to the drone boats. Despite the revision, the original version remained visible in the Telegram channel of the Krasnodar Krai operations headquarters.

Later that morning, the same headquarters posted a new message claiming that four sea drones had allegedly been neutralized near Tuapse in the Black Sea. It acknowledged that one of the drones detonated near the shoreline, with the resulting blast wave ostensibly damaging a two-story house, a garage, and a boat hangar. Boiko eventually announced the all-clear at 8:00 a.m. Moscow time (7:00 a.m. Kyiv time).

Russia claims 71 drones intercepted across the country

Later in the morning, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defense systems had allegedly intercepted or downed 71 drones overnight, including seven over the Black Sea. These figures could not be independently verified.

Bulgaria is preparing legislation that could allow the government to take control of Russian oil company Lukoil’s assets in the country, according to Bulgarian news outlet Capital. The move comes as new US sanctions against Moscow’s oil sector force Lukoil to exit international markets and sell its overseas holdings.

US sanctions announced in October targeted Russia’s top oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, intending to cut Moscow’s wartime energy revenue. The measures ban Western firms from trading, shipping, or insuring their oil, forcing Lukoil to scale back abroad and prompting countries like Bulgaria to reassess its assets under growing restrictions.

Under the proposed bill, a state-appointed manager could assume full control of Lukoil’s Bulgarian refinery and fuel operations, with the power to sell the company’s assets and deposit proceeds into a government account. The draft law has not yet been submitted to parliament but would effectively suspend the Russian company’s management and ownership rights.

The measure follows Lukoil’s plan to sell its international assets, including its Bulgarian refinery, to Swiss-based trader Gunvor, pending US approval. The company announced its global withdrawal after Washington imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil in October, barring Western firms from handling Russian oil from November 21.

Lukoil’s Burgas refinery, the largest in the Balkans, has been a key supplier of fuel to Bulgaria and neighboring countries. US sanctions have raised questions over the refinery’s future operations and energy security in the region.

The draft law reflects growing pressure on European governments to comply with US sanctions and cut Russian energy influence. Bulgaria, which had already limited Lukoil’s exports earlier this year, is now weighing whether to nationalize its operations as part of that broader effort.

Russia’s Black Sea port of Tuapse has suspended fuel exports and halted crude oil processing following a Ukrainian drone strike, forcing three tankers to anchor offshore empty while a 3.6-kilometer (2.2-mile) oil slick spreads into the sea.

The Tuapse oil refinery suspended crude processing after the strike damaged port infrastructure. At the same time, three tankers conducting loading operations sit anchored, unable to complete their scheduled exports to Asian buyers, according to Reuters, citing industry sources and LSEG vessel tracking data.

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Flames light up Tuapse Bay as Ukrainian drones target Russia’s Black Sea oil terminal again

Cumulative campaign

The Tuapse halt exemplifies how Ukraine’s systematic strikes are translating into measurable economic retreat. Ukrainian forces have conducted more than 160 precision strikes on Russian oil refineries and energy facilities in 2025, according to Security Service of Ukraine chief Vasyl Malyuk, who described the operations as “kinetic sanctions.”

BBC Verify documented 21 of Russia’s 38 large refineries struck since January 2025, with attacks reaching record levels in August and remaining elevated through October—already 48% more than all of 2024.

The economic consequences are now appearing: Russia’s fossil fuel revenues in September fell to €546 million ($580 million) per day—half of September 2022 levels—while seaborne oil product exports saw a steep 13% month-on-month decline, which the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air attributed directly to “Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and ports.”

Sanctions amplify strike campaign impact

The timing compounds the pressure: three weeks before the Tuapse strike, the US Treasury sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil, including the RN Tuapse Oil Refinery subsidiary. Major buyers simultaneously pulled back: Indian state refineries reduced their Russian crude imports to the lowest level since May 2022, while Chinese state processors canceled cargoes, potentially affecting 400,000 barrels per day.

BBC satellite imagery analysis captured the damage in Tuapse, revealing an oil slick extending 3.6 kilometers into the Black Sea from a terminal that handles 12 million tons annually and exports 90% of its production, primarily to China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Türkiye—markets central to Russia’s sanctions-evasion network.

From tactical strikes to strategic paralysis

Ukraine’s strategy targets both refining capacity, which produces high-margin products, and export terminals, which generate revenue. SBU chief Malyuk stated on 31 October that strikes have forced a 37% idle rate of refining capacity. By disrupting both processing and export infrastructure, the campaign forces Russia to sell lower-margin crude while reducing absolute volumes.

However, some analysts believe that disruption is temporary. “Down the line, you will see that more and more of the disrupted Russian oil, one way or another, finds its way to the market,” Gunvor Group CEO Torbjörn Törnqvist told Bloomberg. “It always does somehow.”

Facilities that survived previous strikes with temporary disruptions now face operational paralysis as damage accumulates, buyers retreat, and repairs require sanctioned equipment that is unavailable under international restrictions—turning repeated tactical strikes into a strategic economic retreat.

In the early hours of 3 November, explosions shook the Russian city of Saratov as several Telegram channels shared footage and local accounts pointing to a Ukrainian drone strike on the city’s oil refinery. Later that day, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the refinery had been hit.

Saratov oil refinery struck again in confirmed Ukrainian drone attack

Initial reports began surfacing around 00:50 Kyiv time, when residents of Saratov and the nearby city of Engels heard powerful blasts and the operation of air defense systems.

Supernova+, a Ukrainian Telegram channel, shared a photo showing smoke over the refinery and commented that air defense systems were active above the site.

The Ukrainian Telegram channel, Exilenova+, published footage of a drone strike, confirming a strike on the refinery. 

According to the Russian Telegram channel Shot, locals described a series of explosions in the sky, which continued intermittently for about an hour as of time of the reporting. Shot said people across Balakovo and Kalininsky districts of Saratov Oblast reported hearing drones and loud detonations.

Dnipro OSINT geolocated the video, stating it captured a Ukrainian drone hitting the Saratov refinery’s AVT-6 crude distillation unit. 

Russian Telegram channel Astra also reviewed the visuals and also concluded that the target of the attack was the Saratov refinery, noting that the impacted area appeared to be covered with a protective net.

"It is worth noting that the video already shows a source of fire in the western part of the plant, possibly near the storage tanks," Astra added.

One of Russia’s largest oil refineries repeatedly targeted

The Saratov oil refinery is among the largest industrial fuel facilities in Russia. It produces gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, road and roofing bitumen, vacuum gas oil, and technical sulfur. The plant is owned by Rosneft and processed around 5.8 million tons of oil in 2024–2.2% of all oil refined in Russia that year. In 2023, it processed 4.8 million tons.

Ukrainian defense news outlet Militarnyi noted that the refinery has already been targeted seven times in 2025 by Ukrainian drones. Astra said that this was at least the sixth confirmed strike.

The Ilsky oil refinery in southern Russia is the latest to join a growing list of oil plants stuck offline because sanctions block access to repair equipment.

By late October 2025, drone attacks have damaged 16 of Russia’s 38 refineries, and now Western companies like UOP and ABB, which supplied technology to Russia’s 40 largest refineries, have stopped providing the specialized parts and expertise needed for repairs.

Each new breakdown—whether from combat damage or routine failures—becomes difficult and time-consuming to repair, systematically dismantling the fuel production that finances Russia’s war.

Repairs become nearly impossible

The Ilsky facility, operated by KNGK-Holding, officially cited “scheduled maintenance,” but industry sources told Azerbaijani outlet Vesti.az the plant faced sales difficulties and production cuts driven by sanctions, stalled modernization, and market instability.

As Sergei Vakulenko, a Carnegie Endowment energy analyst, put it: “Just like you can’t replace a faulty clutch in a BMW with a similar part from a Russian-made Lada, the same applies in industry.”

Even refineries that haven’t been hit by Ukrainian drones run at reduced capacity because spare parts and specialist repair crews remain scarce under sanctions. Russia’s few resources are being redirected to repair strike-damaged facilities, meaning undamaged plants cannot maintain full production.

Fuel shortage spreads

The International Energy Agency says Ukrainian drone strikes have already cut Russia’s refining output by 500,000 barrels per day and will keep processing rates suppressed until at least mid-2026—a timeline that doesn’t account for additional shutdowns like Ilsky.

The fuel shortage has forced Russia to import gasoline from Belarus, and rail deliveries from Russia’s staunchest ally have quadrupled to 49,000 tons monthly as the Kremlin scrambles to supply domestic markets and military operations.

Drones attacked petrochemical and oil refining facilities across three Russian regions on the night of 29 October, according to Russian sources.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed its forces intercepted 100 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) during the overnight operation, attributing the strikes to Ukrainian forces.

Drones hit major petrochemical facility in Stavropol Krai

The most significant drone strike appeared to hit the Stavrolen petrochemical facility in Budyonnovsk, Stavropol Krai, around 700 km away from Ukraine's border.

Residents reported explosions, and footage showed a large fire visible in the area, according to Russian independent Telegram channel ASTRA.

The plant is part of the Lukoil group and ranks as one of Russia's primary producers of polyethylene and polypropylene.

The facility has an annual production capacity of approximately 340,000 tons of ethylene, 319,000 tons of polyethylene, and 113,000 tons of polypropylene. Its products are used in manufacturing pipes, cable insulation, and construction materials.

Meanwhile, Stavropol Governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed the attack on Budennovsk but stated that drones were neutralized by electronic warfare and air defense systems, causing "no significant damage."

Fire erupted at largest oil refinery in Mari El

Explosions were also reported in the Republic of Mari El, over 1500 km away from Ukraine, where a fire appeared to break out at an oil refinery in the city of Tabashino, according to a monitoring Telegram channel Exilenova+.

Mari El Governor Yuri Zaitsev confirmed that drones fell near an industrial enterprise, though he did not specifically mention the refinery.

The Mari Oil Refinery produces straight-run gasoline, diesel and marine fuels, fuel oil, and other petroleum products.

The plant has an oil processing capacity of 1.25 million tons per year and is one of the largest enterprises in the Republic of Mari El, accounting for more than 70% of the region's foreign economic turnover.

Russia's Mariysky Oil Refinery in Tabashno, Republic of Mari El, has reportedly been struck.

The facility sits about 1,000 km from Ukraine (https://t.co/K2KB8E8Hkh ) and is located along the Surgut–Polotsk main oil pipeline.

It houses two AVT units and can process over 1.6… pic.twitter.com/XdnHFTVD2X

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 29, 2025

Oil refinery struck in Ulyanovsk Oblast

In Ulyanovsk Oblast, local residents reported an attack on the NS-Oil refinery in Novospasskoye settlement, 780 km away from Ukraine.

Governor Alexei Russkikh stated that fires broke out in Novospassky District where debris from allegedly intercepted drones fell, though he did not specifically mention the refinery.

The NS-Oil facility processes approximately 30,000 tons of oil annually, according to open-source data.

Russia's Mariysky Oil Refinery in Tabashno, Republic of Mari El, has reportedly been struck.

The facility sits about 1,000 km from Ukraine (https://t.co/K2KB8E8Hkh ) and is located along the Surgut–Polotsk main oil pipeline.

It houses two AVT units and can process over 1.6… pic.twitter.com/XdnHFTVD2X

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 29, 2025

Russia’s Ryazan refinery, the country’s fourth-largest oil processing plant, was forced to shut down a critical crude unit after a fire broke out following a drone strike. Reuters reports, citing industry sources, that the AVT-4 (also known as CDU-4) crude distillation unit was urgently halted on 22 October, after it caught fire as a result of the attack.

Key unit offline after fire triggered by drone

Reuters says the AVT-4 unit, which processes 4 million metric tons of crude annually—roughly 80,000 barrels per day—was taken offline after it caught fire on 22 October. Two Russian industry sources told Reuters the shutdown followed the fire damage caused by the drone strike. The unit accounts for about one-quarter of the Ryazan refinery’s overall capacity. The refinery is located southeast of Moscow.

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed on 23 October that its forces had struck the Ryazan refinery.

Reuters reports that several adjacent units were also shut down after the fire, including a reformer, a vacuum gasoil hydrotreater, and a catalytic cracker. While the plant remains operational, sources said it is now processing oil at a reduced volume.

Fuel output disruption across multiple units

The Ryazan refinery, owned by the Russian state-controlled oil company Rosneft, processed 13.1 million metric tons of crude in 2024. That year, it produced 2.3 million tons of gasoline, 3.4 million tons of diesel, and 4.2 million tons of fuel oil.

The shutdown of AVT-4 and other systems comes as several Russian regions are already experiencing fuel shortages, according to local authorities, who have previously sometimes linked those shortages to Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian drones struck the Ryazan oil refinery overnight on 23 October, sparking a massive fire at the facility. Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ and Russian news Telegram channel Astra geolocated the blaze to the Rosneft-owned oil refinery, located about 460 km from Ukraine, which supplies fuel to Moscow and surrounding regions. This marks at least the sixth attack on the refinery since January 2025.

The Ryazan refinery belongs to Rosneft and ranks among Russia's largest petroleum facilities. Its declared capacity reaches 17 million tons of crude oil per year. The plant produces all grades of automotive gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, fuel oil, liquefied gases, bitumen and petrochemical feedstock.

Explosions and fire engulf the Ryazan oil facility

According to the reports, eyewitnesses heard approximately 10 explosions around 3:15 a.m. on the outskirts of Ryazan. Locals also heard blasts in the nearby city of Skopin in Ryazan Oblast. Residents described seeing flashes in the sky before fire erupted at the Ryazan facility. Russian channels confirmed the nighttime explosions across the oblast.

Ukrainian Telegram channels, Exilenova+ and Supernova+, both shared video showing flames on the horizon, reportedly filmed in Ryazan. Exilenova+ reported that drones targeted the Ryazan oil refinery and the Dyagilevo military airfield, while Supernova+ initially stated that the target was the airfield, but later leaned to the refinery as the attack's target.

Exilenova+ pinpointed the camera operator coordinates to 54.581845, 39.745340, approximately one kilometer from the refinery, and concluded that the fire is taking place on the refinery's premises.

Russian news Telegram channel Astra's analysis confirmed the attack location. The channel geolocated eyewitness footage to the Southern Industrial District near Etalon gas station in Ryazan.

Ryazan Oblast Governor Pavel Malkov later acknowledged that allegedly falling drone "debris" allegedly caused a fire at an industrial facility. He did not specify which enterprise was hit.

Refinery's "heart" targeted again - the oil cracking unit

Based on its pinpointed geolocation, Supernova+ reported the fire occurred in the area of the refinery's catalytic cracking or hydrotreatment unit.

The facility processed approximately 12-13 million tons annually in recent years. In August, Ukrainian drones forced the plant to temporarily reduce production capacity. The refinery operated with only one major unit at roughly half capacity.

Militarnyi noted that the refinery supplies motor fuel to regions surrounding the Russian capital. The facility sits more than 450 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. It serves as a key fuel provider for the Central Federal District.

Pattern of repeated attacks

This attack continues a sustained campaign against the Ryazan facility. On 5 September, drones hit the ELOU-AVT-6 unit at the refinery. NASA satellites detected a fire at the facility on 22 May. On 24 February, Ukrainian drones damaged the primary oil processing unit.

The refinery also faced attacks overnight on 24 January and again on 26 January.