Smoke and flames rise from Starvrolen petrochemical plant in Russia's Stavropol region after Ukrainian drone strike [Image by Moscow Times]
(The Post News) – Ukrainian drones struck deep inside Russia overnight, hitting multiple oil refineries, petrochemical facilities, and fuel storage terminals in synchronized attacks that shut down air travel across the country and sent enormous fires blazing, Russian and Ukrainian authorities said Wednesday.
The large-scale drone strike, one of the biggest so far, targeted energy facilities in the Ulyanovsk, Stavropol, and Mari El regions, as well as in occupied Crimea. The attacks have damaged the facilities and caused temporary airport closures in several Russian cities, including Moscow.
Airpots Shut Down
Russian civil aviation regulator Rosaviatsia instructed 13 airports, including Domodedovo and Zhukovsky in Moscow, to suspend operations for security inspections. Airports in Grozny, Samara, and Vladikavkaz also grounded flights temporarily.
The Russian Defence Ministry reported that air defences downed 100 Ukrainian drones overnight, most of them over the Bryansk region. Some, however, got through and caused major energy facilities to catch fire.
In the Ulyanovsk region, drones struck the NS-Oil refinery in Novospasskoye. Governor Aleksei Russkikh said the fire had been extinguished by emergency responders about five hours after the explosions. Videos posted online showed tall flames and dense smoke pouring from the plant.
A second major incident took place in the Stavropol region, where drones attacked the Stavrolen petrochemical plant in Budyonnovsk. The Regional Governor, Vladimir Vladimirov, acknowledged that an industrial area had been hit but downplayed the damage. Independent news agency Astra, nevertheless, released video of fires at the Lukoil-owned plant, which produces polyethene and other industrial chemicals crucial for both civilian and military use.
In the Mari El Republic, drones reportedly attacked the Mariysk Oil Refinery in the village of Tabashino. Villagers described hearing explosions followed by bright flashes. The refinery processes up to 1.6 million tons of crude oil annually and supplies vital energy products across central Russia.
In Crimea, occupied by Russia, Ukrainian drones struck fuel storage facilities near Simferopol and Hvardiiske, Russian-appointed officials and local media said. Governor Sergei Aksyonov said a fuel storage tank had caught fire after being struck.
Independent monitoring group Crimean Wind reported that the Hvardiiske depot belonged to ATAN, the largest gas station operator in Crimea. Witnesses reported powerful explosions and fire being visible from nearby towns. Videos shared online indicated black smoke billowing from the attacked locations.
The nighttime attack was attributed by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO), as they reported a “coordinated deep-strike operation” aimed at destroying Russia’s fuel supply.
“One night, three priority targets,” the SSO said. “Our precision drone groups hit to paralyze the enemy and accelerate his strategic depletion.”
Ukrainian forces attacked, as per the SSO:
Mariysk Oil Refinery (Mari El), Novospassky Oil Refinery (Ulyanovsk region) and Budyonnovsk Gas Processing Plant (Stavropol region)
Fires and explosions in all three facilities were reported.
Impact on Russia’s Economy
President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukrainian strikes have already devastated Russia’s oil production. “We believe that the Russians have lost more than 20% of their refining capacity, between 22 to 27% of their fuel,” he told reporters on October 27.
Zelensky emphasized that 90–95% of long-range strikes now rely on Ukrainian-made drones, not imported systems. “This is their money for the war, from oil refining. That’s why we’re working on it,” he said.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports Ukraine’s attacks have caused nationwide fuel shortages in Russia, which have raised prices and led Moscow to restrict domestic fuel sales. The Russian statistics agency Rosstat confirmed fuel prices rose 2.6% in September, the highest since 2018, and inflation reached 12.7%, a 14-year high.
Ukraine has ramped up drone strikes against Russian gas and oil infrastructure since August. Nearly 40% of Russian refineries were forced to close temporarily by early October. Analysts say Wednesday’s strikes marked a new escalation in Kyiv’s campaign to hit targets hundreds of kilometres inside Russia.
There were no casualties reported, but the fires noticeably disrupted Russia’s fuel supply chain and put additional strain on its wartime economy.
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