Fire Erupts at Russian Saratov Region Oil Refinery Following Drone Strike

A drone strike targeted the Saratov Oil Refinery, igniting a fire near the facility, reported Russian media Astra on November 8.

Videos circulating online capture the incident, with some residents noting a visible “flare,” typically observed during routine maintenance at the refinery.

However, images from the site indicate that the blaze is distinct from the typical flare, suggesting a possible impact-related damage.

Roman Busargin, the governor of Russia’s Saratov region, later confirmed the drone attack, stating that all drones had been intercepted and their debris fell within the industrial zone of Zavodsky District, where the Saratov refinery is located. Busargin also confirmed there were no injuries.

Preliminary, drone fragments hit an oil storage tank and a processing unit, though it remains unclear if this led to a fire.

Evacuation was announced at the refinery, and shattered windows were reported in nearby buildings.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed downing of 6 drones over the Saratov region during the night.

The Saratov refinery is a major facility within the Rosneft structure, processing up to 7 million tons of oil annually.

Earlier, three major Russian oil refineries—Volgograd, Ilsky, and Yaysky—have partially halted operations due to delays in completing scheduled maintenance last month.