The Ukrainian Defense Forces on Tuesday, Nov. 11, struck the Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery in Russia’s Orenburg region, the General Staff of Ukraine reported.
According to a statement on Telegram, the strike was part of efforts to reduce Russia’s offensive capabilities and disrupt the supply of fuel and ammunition to the Kremlin’s troops.
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Preliminary reports indicate that the attack triggered several explosions and a fire at the refinery, with one of its primary oil refining units reportedly hit. Damage assessments are ongoing.
Sources in Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) told Kyiv Post that long-range drones from the SBU’s Alpha Special Operations Center carried out the strike, hitting the target 1,400 km (870 miles) from Ukrainian territory.
“This refinery has four main oil refining units and produces around 30 types of products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, lubricants, aviation kerosene, bitumen, and fuel oil. It is one of Russia’s leading refineries,” the source said.
According to the SBU, at least four explosions were recorded at the site, followed by thick plumes of smoke.
This marks the second Ukrainian strike on the Orsknefteorgsintez refinery – the first occurred on Oct. 3.
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“The SBU continues to deliver precision strikes on Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure, which funds the war against Ukraine. These attacks undermine the aggressor’s economic potential, cut oil revenues, and disrupt logistics,” the SBU source added.
Russian media earlier reported that unidentified drones had attacked the Orsknefteorgsintez refinery, one of the largest in Russia and part of JSC Forteinvest, a key asset of the Safmar industrial group.
The refinery’s design capacity is 6.6 million tons of oil per year, and its infrastructure includes four primary processing units, two catalytic reformers, kerosene and diesel hydrotreating units, and facilities for oil and bitumen production.
The attack follows Ukraine’s confirmed strikes on the Saratov refinery and the Morskoy oil terminal in Feodosia, occupied Crimea.
A series of explosions hit the Russian cities of Saratov and Engels early on Tuesday, Nov. 11, with social media reporting a large fire at the Saratov oil refinery.
According to regional authorities, air defenses were active as residents heard several loud blasts after 1 a.m. Saratov Governor Roman Busargin confirmed drone attacks and said one person was lightly injured by shattered glass.
Ukraine’s General Staff and the Forces of Unmanned Systems later confirmed their involvement, saying the refinery – which supports Russian military needs – was struck by Ukrainian drones. The refinery processes about 4.8 million tons of oil annually.
Ukrainian drones also reportedly targeted the Morskoy Neftyanoy Terminal in occupied Feodosia, a key logistics hub for supplying Russian forces in southern Ukraine.