A large-scale drone attack overnight ignited a major fire at the Ryazan Oil Refinery, one of Russia’s largest fuel production facilities, according to local residents and Russian monitoring channels.
Multiple loud explosions were reported after several drones were seen flying over the city. Videos shared online appeared to show flames and thick smoke rising from the area of the refinery.
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The strike came after another reported drone attack on Russian energy infrastructure. On Thursday, Gazprom’s Astrakhan gas plant in Russia suspended motor fuel production after a fire caused by a drone attack. Operations at a key gas condensate processing unit capable of producing up to 3 million tons annually were reportedly halted.
The Ryazan refinery and Gazprom’s Astrakhan gas plant are both considered important to Moscow’s war machine.
Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov claimed that local air defense and electronic warfare units intercepted incoming drones, but acknowledged that falling debris caused a fire on the premises of an industrial enterprise.
The Rosneft-operated Ryazan facility, located roughly 460 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, processes up to 17.1 million tons of crude oil annually and is considered a key site for Russia’s fuel supply.
The attack coincided with drone alerts and interceptions near Moscow, prompting temporary flight restrictions at Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo airports.
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Drone Strike Halts Fuel Output at Gazprom Plant in Russia
On Thursday, a Gazprom gas processing plant in Russia’s Astrakhan region halted fuel production after a drone attack sparked a fire. Key processing units were damaged, with repairs expected to take weeks or months. The strike is part of a broader pattern of attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure amid the war in Ukraine.
Explosions were also reported in other Russian regions, including Bryansk, Taganrog and Yeysk, where smoke was seen rising from the direction of a military airfield. Russia’s 859th Naval Aviation Training Center operates directly out of the targeted Yeysk airfield.