Drone attack targets the Kirishi refinery and Yeysk air base in Russia

Overnight, Ukrainian forces are suspected of targeting one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, as well as a military air base, according to information published by monitoring channels.

The Kirishi refinery, located in the Leningrad region and known as Kinef, caught fire following a suspected drone attack. The facility is one of Russia’s main oil-processing sites and has been affected by sanctions imposed by the United States and Ukraine’s allies.

Leningrad Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said that a drone fell near the refinery and that a fire subsequently broke out. He also said that Russian air-defense systems shot down 62 drones over the region. So far, the extent of the damage and whether there were any casualties remain unknown. Meanwhile, powerful explosions were reported at the Yeysk air base in the Krasnodar region.

Drone activity was also reported in the Smolensk and Bryansk regions, although it is not known whether other targets were hit there. Kyiv has not yet issued an official confirmation of the operation, while the information published from the ground has not been independently verified.

The latest attacks came a day after Ukrainian strikes on targets in Rostov and several Russian military installations in occupied territories. These included facilities for storing and launching drones in Donetsk and annexed Crimea.

Ukraine considers deep strikes into Russian territory part of its strategy to weaken Moscow’s ability to continue the war.