Ukrainian Drones Target Russian Oil Refinery and Chemical Plant

Orenburg, Russia — Ukrainian drones attacked a major oil refinery and a chemical plant in Russia overnight, officials reported on Friday. These strikes occurred at the Orsknefteorgsintez refinery in the Orenburg region and the Azot chemical plant in the Perm region.

Videos shared on social media show at least one drone crashing into the Orsknefteorgsintez grounds, with black smoke rising from the facility. Orenburg regional Governor Yevgeny Solntsev confirmed that there were no casualties and that operations at the refinery were unaffected.

The Azot plant temporarily halted operations following the attack but later resumed production, according to Perm Governor Dmitry Makhonin. Residents near the plant reported hearing two loud explosions late Thursday evening, and eyewitness accounts suggested that three drones were involved in the incident.

Both facilities are approximately 1,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The Orsknefteorgsintez refinery, owned by Mikhail Gutseriyev’s Safmar Group, has an annual processing capacity of 6.6 million tons and produces a range of petroleum products such as gasoline and diesel. The Azot facility, controlled by billionaire Dmitry Mazepin’s Uralchem, is the sole producer of certain chemicals in Russia.

In recent months, Ukraine has increased drone strikes targeting Russian refineries and chemical facilities. Industry sources reported that as of September 28, 38% of Russia’s primary oil refining capacity was offline, resulting in a supply shortfall. This has led to reported fuel shortages across more than 20 Russian regions, particularly affecting the Far East and Crimea.

The Russian government has reacted by banning gasoline exports and preparing to accept imports to stabilize the market. Analysts note that gasoline output in September fell significantly, further straining the domestic supply.