Timeline of the attack<\/p>\n
According to eyewitnesses, the attack began around 0:40 local time. The sound of drones was heard in the sky over the city, followed by a series of powerful explosions \u2013 at least 15.<\/p>\n
The force of the explosions rattled windows in buildings and set off car alarms in parked vehicles.<\/p>\n
Before the attack, a drone danger was announced in the region. Due to the threat of strikes, Yaroslavl airport temporarily suspended arrivals and departures.<\/p>\n
Hit the refinery<\/p>\n
The Ukrainian monitoring resource Exilenova+ confirmed that the drones’ target was the Yaroslavl oil refinery (full name: “Slavneft-Yaroslavnefteorgsintez”, also known as “Slavneft-YANOS”). Following the strikes, a large fire broke out on its territory.<\/p>\n
Significance of the facility<\/p>\n
The Yaroslavl refinery is the largest oil refinery in northern Russia and ranks among the country’s top five refineries by primary processing capacity.<\/p>\n
Its capacity reaches approximately 15 million tons of oil per year. The facility produces gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel, which are critically important for the logistics of the Russian army.<\/p>\n
The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to systematically strike Russian oil infrastructure<\/a>. In late March \u2013 early April 2026, attacks targeted refineries in Kirishi, Yaroslavl, Saratov, Ufa, and Novokuybyshevsk, as well as terminals in Primorsk, Ust-Luga, and Tuapse.<\/p>\n