Today at 19:02
On the night of March 4, drones attacked an oil refinery in the city of Syzran, Samara Oblast, Russia.
The regional governor, Vyacheslav Fedoryshchev, reported that “one of Syzran’s industrial enterprises” was hit. Local residents shared on social media that at 2:45 AM local time, they heard at least three explosions near the refinery.
The Syzran Oil Refinery (OR), owned by the company “Rosneft,” has a processing capacity of 8.9 million tons of oil per year. It produces fuel, aviation kerosene, and bitumen. In 2015, the refinery fully transitioned to producing Euro-5 standard fuel. It processes oil from Western Siberia and Samara Oblast.
In March 2024, drones had already attacked the Syzran OR. Following a successful Ukrainian UAV attack, its productivity temporarily dropped to 6 million tons per year, about 70% of its nominal capacity.
Recently, the UK Ministry of Defence reported via X that after three years of war against Ukraine, Russia remains unable to protect its strategic military facilities, as evidenced by repeated Ukrainian attacks.
According to British intelligence, Ukraine is successfully using drones against Russian military targets and infrastructure with increasing frequency, including numerous strikes on Russian oil refineries.
For example, on the night of March 3, Ukrainian strike UAVs attacked the Ufa Oil Refinery, located over 1,500 km from Ukraine’s border.
According to open sources, the “Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim” OR (formerly the Ufa Oil Refinery named after the XXII Congress of the CPSU) produces nearly 60 types of products, including gasoline, fuel oil, diesel fuel, and liquefied gases.
The oil refining complex of PJSC ANK “Bashneft” includes three production sites with a total capacity of 23.5 million tons per year. The petrochemical complex includes PJSC “Ufaorgsintez” and the gas processing plant LLC “Shkapovskoye GPP.”
Reports from the scene indicate that the Ukrainian drone strike hit the L-24-7 unit at the refinery, with direct hits on fuel storage facilities, causing a large-scale fire and damaging part of the plant’s technological infrastructure. The attack reportedly targeted two vertical steel tanks (RVSP-3000) and main raw material pipelines, as well as a third tank (RVSP-2000), which detonated.
The “Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim” refinery holds strategic significance for the Russian army, as it supplies fuel for military operations.
Ukraine’s Defense Forces are systematically targeting Russian oil refineries and other fuel-energy infrastructure to significantly reduce the occupier’s military capabilities.
“Ukraine’s successes highlight Russia’s ongoing inability to protect strategic military facilities from attacks. They also demonstrate the challenge Russia faces in balancing infrastructure defense with frontline operations,” the UK intelligence briefing stated.
On the night of February 26, drones from Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) struck the Tuapse Oil Refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. The attack damaged part of the ELOU-AVT-12 refining unit and an oil pipeline.
The Tuapse OR processes 12 million tons of oil annually, with over 90% of its products exported. The refinery also plays a role in supplying the Russian occupation army. Reports indicate at least 40 explosions occurred at the facility.
Since the beginning of the year, multiple Russian refineries have been attacked. The Ryazan OR was hit three times—on January 24, January 26, and February 24. This refinery also supplies fuel to the Russian military.
“There is confirmed fire damage to the primary crude oil refining unit ELOU AT-6. The extent of the destruction is being clarified,” stated Ukraine’s General Staff after the February 24 attack.
The AT-6 unit is used in crude oil refining to produce gasoline, fuel oil, and diesel fuel. It has a daily processing capacity of 23,190 tons, equating to 47.5% of the plant’s total refining output.
In 2018, the AT-6 unit underwent a full-scale reconstruction to increase production capacity. The upgrade, which began in 2012, cost approximately 4.5 billion rubles.
The Ryazan Oil Refinery is among Russia’s four largest refineries, with an annual processing capacity of 17.1 million tons. It produces diesel fuel, jet fuel (TS-1), aviation kerosene, fuel oil, and petrochemicals. Aviation fuel is particularly critical for Russia’s front-line and strategic bomber aircraft, which conduct strikes against Ukraine.
Notably, Ukrainian strike drones are not targeting fuel storage tanks but technological equipment. This tactic is driven by Western sanctions, which make it difficult for Russia to replace imported components. After large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks, Russian refineries face prolonged repair periods.
The strikes on Russian refineries are Ukraine’s response to the aggressor state’s increased maritime exports of oil and petroleum products.
Russia has found ways to bypass Western sanctions on its oil and gas sector. In response, Ukraine has targeted this industry. To maximize impact, the attacks were carried out simultaneously on multiple key refineries, preventing Russia from quickly shifting supply and refining operations.
Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, along with other Defense Forces units, has attacked at least 28 fuel-energy facilities in 16 Russian regions.
The overall damage to Russia’s oil refining industry is significant. About 12% of the entire sector—equivalent to one in every eight barrels of oil—has been disrupted, preventing export and depriving Russia of revenue needed to sustain its war against Ukraine.
Beyond these broader achievements—targeting some of Russia’s largest refineries—there are also specific results that strike at the core of Putin’s economic war machine.
All of this leads to one simple conclusion: these attacks were well-prepared, and given their significant success, they will continue. The Main Intelligence Directorate has stated that strikes on military and strategic targets supporting Russia’s war effort will persist.
Russia’s repeated failures to counter Ukrainian drones have exposed its vulnerability and inability to defend its own territory.
Military-political analyst Dmytro Sniehyriov
