Ukraine launched drone strikes on Russia’s Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka refinery not far from the frontline on Wednesday night, triggering fire across southern Volgograd region. The refinery is known for supplying to Russian forces in southern Ukraine and in Russian-annexed Crimea Peninsula.
Regional authorities issued drone threat at around 9 PM, and Russia's aviation agency closed Volgograd's airport. Local resident reported multiple explosions and fire in Telegram channels. Volgograd Region’s Governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed a fire had broken out " at a facility in southern Volgograd " but avoided naming the refinery directly. Multiple photos and videos, however, pointed squarely at the Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka plant. However, a local monitoring channel in Telegram app identified the target as the Lukoil oil refinery. According to Dnipro OSINT, Telegram channel, which analyzed the footage circulated in the aftermath of the strike, drones preliminarily hit fuel and lubricant storage tanks.
Being the largest oil product producer in Russia’s Southern Federal District, Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka is located closer to the frontline than any other Russian refinery. With a annual processing capacity of around 15 million tons, the refinery specializes in diesel fuel used by heavy armored vehicles and aviation kerosene for military aircraft and helicopters. Moreover, the refinery produces lubricant for military equipment. Wednesday’s attack marked the nineth strike on the oil refinery in two years and the first in 2026. Ukrainian drones have hit the facility multiple times, triggering the reduction of output. The previous drone attacks took place on November 6 and September 18. Volgograd region comes under frequent attacks of Ukrainian Air Forces due to its proximity to the frontline.
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