Russia’s Most Devastating Night: Drones Strike Five Oil Refineries

• 5.03.2025, 8:59

Forbes reveals details of deep strikes.

Yesterday, Ukrainian drones attacked five oil refinery facilities and warehouses in Russia.

This was one of the most ambitious and potentially destructive raids in Ukraine's 18-month (and ongoing) campaign of deep strikes targeting Russia's most important industry.

An Estonian analyst at WarTranslated said that last night was "devastating," Forbes reports.

The Ukrainian General Staff said that the strikes were carried out on the Kuibyshev-Lisichansk oil pipeline in Chertkovo (Rostov region, Russia). This is about 130 km from the front line. The strike hit a gas pipeline in the Sokhranovka area (Rostov region, Russia), 160 km from the front line.

The Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery (Rostov region, Russian Federation), 190 km from the front line, was also hit. The Syzran Oil Refinery (Samara region, Russian Federation), 800 km from the front line, and the fuel storage facility in Rovenki in Luhansk region were also hit by drone strikes. Russian public groups have accurately confirmed attacks on two of the five oil refinery facilities.

The new drone attack occurred a day after drones attacked the Ufa Oil Refinery, and 8 days after drones attacked the Ryazan Oil Refinery, which suspended operations.

In February, the farthest point for Ukrainian drones was the Saratov Oil Refinery, 720 km from the front line. And at the end of January, drones covered a distance of 800 km to strike the oil refinery in Kstovo in Nizhny Novgorod region.

Of course, the damage can be repaired. But increasingly frequent and destructive Ukrainian drone strikes, coupled with foreign sanctions, are putting pressure on Russia’s oil exports.

Less frequent and destructive attacks reduced Russia’s oil exports by 10% last year, according to a Reuters analysis. The impact of this year’s attacks could be worse.