Crucial Russian oil refinery ignited during Ukrainian drone assault

A massive oil refinery responsible for 30% of Russia’s gas consumption was ignited during an assault by dozens of Ukrainian drones, Kyiv said.

The Lukoil oil refinery in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Oblast was lit up during an overnight barrage Tuesday that saw more than 50 drones bombard the area, according to the General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces.

Video circulating on war channels in Telegram shows the energy facility on fire, marking a blow to one of Moscow’s largest oil refineries, which have become a regular target to undermine Russia’s ability to wage war.

The massive Lukoil refinery accounts for about 30% of Russia’s petrol consumption, with the plant processing about 17 million tons of crude oil a year.

Ukrainian intelligence claimed the facility was providing petroleum products to fuel the Russian military.

While Russian officials have yet to make a statement on the attack, regional Gov. Gleb Nikitin said that at least 20 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over Kstovo on Tuesday, the town where the oil refinery is located.

The Kremlin’s oil fields have been a regular target for Kyiv in the past year, with dozens of refineries and key pipelines coming under attack from Ukrainian drones every month.

Ukraine’s Security Service estimates that it has made close to 160 successful strikes against oil facilities across Russia so far in 2025 — with the goal of crippling the Kremlin’s defense budget and causing pain for Russian consumers who have been able to ignore most of the war.

Security Service chief Vasyl Maliuk claimed last week that oil extraction and refining “make up around 90% of Russia’s defense budget,” according to the Kyiv Independent. 

Along with the attack on the Lukoil refinery, Ukraine reported that the assault also left “considerable damage” at a petrochemical plant in Bashkortostan, located in central Russia.

Explosions were reported at the Sterlitamak chemical plant on Tuesday, with Mayor Emil Shaimardanov claiming that the blasts destroyed a water purification facility.

Ukraine’s General Staff said that the petrochemical plant produces the components for aviation kerosene, which is used for Russia’s aerial units.

With Post wires