Drone Strike Ignites Fire at Afipsky Refinery, Key Supplier of Russian Military Fuel

A fire broke out at the Afipsky Oil Refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region on the morning of November 29, following a drone strike, according to local Russian authorities.

The Operational Headquarters of Krasnodar Krai reported that a fire erupted on refinery grounds after what appeared to be a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) attack. The refinery is one of the largest fuel processing sites in southern Russia and plays a key role in regional fuel supply.

According to the Operational Headquarters, the fire covered approximately 250 square meters and damaged part of the refinery’s technical infrastructure.

The extent of the damage to processing units or storage facilities was not disclosed. Russian Telegram channels also circulated videos of the blaze, showing flames and smoke visible from a significant distance.

No official statement has been released by Ukraine’s General Staff regarding the strike as of publication time.

Located at coordinates 44.884425, 38.824718, the Afipsky refinery has a reported annual processing capacity of 6.25 million tonnes of crude oil. It produces gasoline, diesel, gas oil, fuel oil, sulfur, and gas condensate distillates.

The facility is also responsible for utility services—including water supply, wastewater treatment, and electricity transit—for surrounding settlements and industrial areas.

Russian sources note that the plant is undergoing modernization to increase its processing capacity to 9 million tonnes per year. In 2022, it reportedly processed over 7 million tonnes.

The refinery supplies fuel for various sectors, including Russia’s military, making it a frequent target in recent months.

The Afipsky refinery accounts for more than 2% of Russia’s total oil refining output and is a key supplier of diesel and gasoline for military logistics in southern Russia.

Earlier on November 25, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck Russia’s Novorossiysk port, damaging a Tapir-class landing ship (Project 1171). The operation involved multiple Ukrainian military and intelligence units and targeted key logistics and naval assets in the Black Sea hub.

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