Ukrainian drones attacked one of Russia's largest oil refineries overnight, causing a fire at the Kirishi facility in the northwestern Leningrad region, Russian officials and Ukrainian military sources confirmed.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that units of the Unmanned Systems Forces and the Special Operations Forces, in cooperation with other components of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, launched the attack on the refinery during the early hours of Sunday, September 14.
The Kirishi refinery, operated by Russian oil company Surgutneftegas, is one of Russia’s top three facilities by production, with a processing capacity ranging from 17.7 million to 20 million metric tons per year, equivalent to approximately 355,000 barrels per day. The facility produces nearly 80 types of petroleum products, including automotive gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel, and also supplies the needs of the Russian armed forces. Regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed that three drones were shot down overnight in the Kirishi area, and that falling debris caused a fire at the facility. Drozdenko said there were no injuries and that the fire was later extinguished. The Ukrainian General Staff released photographs showing flames and plumes of smoke rising against the night sky.
The attack is part of Ukraine's sustained strategy against Russian oil infrastructure, which kyiv says fuels Moscow's war effort. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that at least 80 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over Russian territory, occupied Crimea, and the Sea of Azov.
More than three years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drones have become a key weapon for both sides. On Wednesday, several Russian drones crossed the border into Poland, forcing NATO to scramble fighter jets to intercept them and underscoring concerns about a potential escalation of the conflict beyond Ukraine's borders.
The attack comes amid a fuel shortage crisis in Russia. Although the country remains the world's second-largest oil exporter, seasonal surges in demand and ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks have led to gasoline shortages in recent weeks, prompting authorities to implement rationing or suspend sales altogether.
In an attempt to alleviate the crisis, Russia suspended gasoline exports, announcing on Wednesday a total ban until September 30 and a partial ban affecting traders and intermediaries until October 31.
Train derailments
Meanwhile, the Leningrad region was the scene of several train incidents on Sunday. Two trains derailed this morning, killing one driver who was trapped in his cab and died while being transported to the hospital. Authorities are investigating the possibility of sabotage.
In Russia's Oryol region, a bomb planted on railway tracks killed three people on Saturday night, including a member of the Russian National Guard inspecting the tracks near the town of Maloarkhangelsk, about 200 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The Russian rail network has suffered repeated derailments, explosions and fires that authorities attribute to Ukrainian sabotage, although kyiv does not usually claim responsibility for these attacks.
