Drone Strike Sets Strategic Ilsky Refinery Ablaze in Southern Russia, Video

A drone attack triggered a large fire at the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, according to footage shared by the OSINT channel Exilenova+ and statements from regional authorities on February 17.

Local officials confirmed that the strike ignited a storage tank containing petroleum products on the refinery’s grounds.

“The total fire area is about 700 square meters. Seventy-two personnel and 21 pieces of equipment are involved in extinguishing the blaze… A firefighting train is also operating at the scene,” the regional operational headquarters said.

Videos recorded by nearby residents show towering flames and thick black smoke rising above the industrial site.

The Ilsky refinery—operated by KNGK-INPZ LLC—is among the largest privately owned refining enterprises in the region and plays a notable role in supplying fuel for both domestic consumption and export.

Located in the settlement of Ilsky in the Seversky district, roughly 30 kilometers from the city of Krasnodar, the facility focuses on primary crude processing and the production of petroleum products, including diesel fuel, gasoline, fuel oil, and bitumen.

Earlier, Russia’s Volgograd oil refinery, one of the country’s largest, suspended oil processing after a Ukrainian drone strike triggered a fire, marking the first major refinery shutdown linked to such attacks since the start of 2026.

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