A Ukrainian drone attack hit the Lukoil oil refinery in Kstovo, Russia, marking one of the deepest strikes into Russian territory since the conflict began. The facility, located approximately 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, was struck around 1 AM local time.
Multiple explosions were reported by local residents, with witnesses hearing at least three blasts at the facility. The Kstovo refinery, Russia's fourth-largest, has an annual processing capacity of 17 million tons of crude oil and supplies roughly 30% of Moscow region's gasoline consumption.
Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) confirmed to local media that it carried out the operation. Intelligence sources claim all four drones reached their intended targets, causing severe damage to the refinery. Russian officials countered that any damage was caused by falling debris from intercepted drones.
The strike comes amid an intensifying campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure. Just days earlier, Ukraine successfully hit the Ryazan oil refinery, forcing it to suspend operations. The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 104 Ukrainian drones overnight across various regions.
Russian petrochemicals company Sibur announced a temporary suspension of operations at its Kstovo plant following the attack, citing a fire caused by drone debris. Local reports indicated that communication systems were jammed prior to the attack, though this failed to prevent the drones from reaching their target.
The incident has led to broader disruptions across Russia, with multiple airports, including those in Kazan and Pulkovo, temporarily suspending operations due to drone-related security concerns.
This latest strike demonstrates Ukraine's growing capability to conduct long-range drone operations deep within Russian territory, forcing Moscow to allocate additional resources to protect its strategic infrastructure.