Drones Set Major Russian Oil and Gas Facilities Ablaze in Overnight Strikes

Unmanned aerial vehicles targeted two of Russia’s key energy sites overnight—an oil refinery in Novokuybyshevsk, Samara region, and a gas processing plant in Orenburg—causing large fires at both facilities.

According to Exilenova+, the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery was hit for the fifth time since the start of the full-scale war and the fourth time this year. The strike took place in the early hours of October 19, igniting a massive blaze across several sections of the complex.

Local authorities in the Orenburg region also confirmed damage to a gas processing plant following another drone strike, Astra reported.

Governor Yevgeny Solntsev said “a fire broke out in one of the workshops,” noting that emergency services were working on-site and that there were no reported casualties among workers.

Videos posted on Russian social media channels showed bright explosions and thick smoke columns rising from both facilities.

The Russian Defense Ministry later claimed it had intercepted 45 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions, including Samara, Orenburg, Saratov, Rostov, Voronezh, and temporarily occupied Crimea. These claims cannot be independently verified.

The Novokuybyshevsk refinery is part of Rosneft’s production network and ranks among the largest refining facilities in the Volga region. It processes roughly 8.8 million tons of crude oil annually, producing jet fuel, automotive gasoline, and lubricants used in both civilian and military applications.

Meanwhile, the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant, operated by Gazprom, is one of the largest gas chemical complexes in the world, with an annual capacity of around 40 billion cubic meters. It produces natural gas, gas condensate, liquefied gases, sulfur, and odorants.

Both plants are located nearly 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, highlighting the extended reach of Ukraine’s long-range drone operations.

UPDATE: Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed overnight drone strikes on two major Russian energy facilities—the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in the Samara region and the Orenburg gas processing plant.

According to the statement, operators of the 14th Separate UAV Regiment carried out the attack on the refinery, which plays a key role in supplying fuel and lubricants to the Russian military. Ukrainian forces also targeted a fuel storage base in occupied Berdiansk, where subsequent explosions and fires were observed.

Earlier on October 17, an explosion at the Avangard defense plant in Bashkortostan caused a major fire, according to Sterlitamak officials and Baza. The Rostec-operated facility, sanctioned by the EU in 2024, reportedly sustained damage and injuries.

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