Ukrainian Forces hit major Russian oil refinery and drone base in new wave of strikes
Illustrative photo: Ukrainian Armed Forces struck oil refinery in Samara region and Rubikon drone base (GettyImages)
Ukraine’s Defense Forces carried out a series of strikes on strategic facilities of Russia’s military infrastructure, significantly reducing the offensive potential of the occupation forces, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to the General Staff, Ukrainian units struck the capacities of the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region. It is one of the largest Russian refineries, with an annual processing volume of nearly 9 million tons of oil.
The enterprise produces over 20 types of products and supplies fuel, including jet fuel, to the Russian military. Explosions and a fire were recorded in the target area, and the extent of the damage is being clarified.
In addition, Ukrainian forces destroyed a storage base for drones belonging to the Rubikon unit and a fuel and lubricants pumping station in the temporarily occupied territory of the Donetsk region.
The General Staff also clarified the consequences of the previous strike on the Ryazan oil refinery. Damage was inflicted on the ELOU-AVT-4 and ELOU-AVT-6 primary oil processing units, fuel product storage tanks, and a pipeline trestle.
“Defense Forces will continue to take measures to undermine the offensive potential of the Russian occupiers and to compel the Russian Federation to end its armed aggression against Ukraine,” the General Staff emphasized.
Attacks on oil refineries in various regions of the Russian Federation
As reported by RBC-Ukraine, the previous strike on the Novokuybyshevsk refinery took place on August 28, when a large fire broke out on the enterprise’s territory.
The most serious damage to this refinery occurred on March 10, 2025—at that time, the attack caused the temporary shutdown of the enterprise. As a result of the strike, the key primary oil processing unit KDU-11, with a capacity of 18,900 tons per day, was damaged.
In addition, on November 4, two oil refineries in Russia simultaneously halted operations after drone strikes—the petrochemical complex in Bashkiria and the Nizhny Novgorod refinery.
And during the night of November 3, Ukraine’s Defense Forces carried out a strike on the Saratov refinery. A hit on the facility and a fire in the processing unit area were confirmed. This is one of the oldest oil refineries in Russia, which, as of 2023, processed 4.8 million tons of oil and supplied the needs of the Russian army.
