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.

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.