Drone Strike Ignites Major Blaze at Russian Oil Facility Supplying Military Fuel

A large fuel storage tank at the Tuapse oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region was struck in an overnight drone attack, Russian media outlet Astra reported on March 14.

The strike occurred shortly after 2:00 am local time. Residents of Tuapse reported hearing about ten loud explosions at the refinery before air raid sirens were activated. Shortly after, a massive fire broke out at the facility.

The governor of Krasnodar Krai, Veniamin Kondratyev, confirmed the attack, stating that a fuel storage tank had been set ablaze.

According to officials, the fire had spread to more than 1,000 square meters by 5:00 am, requiring 121 personnel and 39 equipment units to fight it.

This marks the second successful attack on the Tuapse refinery in recent weeks. On the night of February 26, two drones struck the facility, damaging a crude oil pipeline and part of the ELOU-AVT-12 refining unit, reportedly causing a minor oil spill.

The Tuapse refinery, one of Russia’s largest, is owned by state-controlled Rosneft and specializes in primary oil processing. With an annual capacity of approximately 12 million tons of crude oil, the refinery produces diesel, fuel oil, and aviation kerosene. Ninety percent of its output is designated for export.

Its location near the Black Sea and a key oil terminal makes it a critical asset for Russia’s fuel supply network.

The Head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, Andrii Kovalenko, confirmed the strike, stating:

“The Tuapse refinery was attacked—this is not the first strike. It is one of the largest in Russia, processing around 12 million tons of crude annually. The refinery specializes in primary oil processing, producing straight-run gasoline, diesel fuel, and fuel oil, a significant portion of which is exported.

For the Russian military, this refinery is of strategic importance as it supplies fuel to the Black Sea Fleet and military infrastructure in the south of the country. It is a key part of the logistical chain for fueling military equipment and aviation.”

Earlier, drones targeted the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region.

Astra initially reported loud explosions in the region, citing local residents. According to preliminary information, drones attacked the Novokuybyshevsk refinery, which is part of the state-owned Rosneft group. Telegram channels also reported a fire at the facility.