Russian oil refinery and Wildberries site reportedly targeted in Volgograd attack
Photo: fire in Volgograd after the attack (Exilenova+)
The Russian city of Volgograd, located approximately 350 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, came under attack. It is not yet known what exactly was used to carry out the strikes: drones or missiles, according to Exilenova+.
According to OSINT analysts, two facilities may have been hit at once. The first could have been the Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka oil refinery, one of the largest in Russia.
This refinery produces gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, and other petroleum products that are important to the Russian economy and to supplying fuel to the civilian and state sectors, as well as to the occupiers' army.
Annually, the refinery processes about 13–15 million tons of oil (approximately 5% of the total Russian volume).
In addition, the attack may have caused a fire at a Wildberries distribution center. This is a logistics complex covering 44,000 square meters and a key logistics hub for Volgograd, Astrakhan, and neighboring regions.
Exilenova+ reports that UAVs with drop munitions are operating in Volgograd. Other information is still being clarified.
Russian oil refinery and Wildberries site reportedly targeted in Volgograd attackhttps://t.co/pk32Rk21Ck pic.twitter.com/p0p2Ob8Fcd
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) July 31, 2026
Context of the event
Over the past two months, Ukrainian drones have put about 40% of Russia's oil refining capacity out of operation. As a result, approximately 50 million Russians have faced a fuel shortage.
Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries deep in the rear have not only led to fuel shortages at gas stations but have also begun to affect the country's economy as a whole. The head of the Central Bank of Russia, Elvira Nabiullina, stated that the fuel crisis is already affecting the prices of goods and services.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Wildberries is considering relocating part of its logistics capacity to Kazakhstan. Amid the attacks by Ukrainian drones, the company is urgently seeking new warehouse facilities.
