Major Russian Oil Refinery Sustained At Least 10 Hits in Massive Drone Attack

A wave of explosive drones struck the Ryazan Oil Refinery in Russia overnight, one of the country’s most significant oil industry facilities. The refinery sustained direct hits despite Russia’s air defense efforts, reported Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, on January 24.

“It’s loud in Ryazan, Russia,” Kovalenko wrote.

“There’s an oil storage facility there, and also a refinery—one of Russia’s key oil production sites. Despite being under sanctions, it remains operational. The facility plays a crucial role in fueling both civilian and military-industrial complexes in Russia. It produces military-grade fuel for vehicles, aviation kerosene, diesel, and other products used in tanks, planes, ships, and other Russian military equipment,” he added.

Local residents reported hearing at least ten loud explosions during the night, followed by massive fires. Videos shared on social media captured multiple fire sites within the refinery’s territory, with one showing a blast at a large oil storage tank. Observers suggested that critical equipment for refining crude oil into fuel may also have been damaged in the strike.

Pavel Malkov, the governor of the Ryazan region, confirmed the drone attack, claiming that air defense systems and electronic warfare units intercepted the UAVs over the region. He added that there were no casualties and that emergency services were “eliminating the consequences of the air attack.” However, he did not specify the extent of the damage.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense later announced that its air defense systems allegedly shot down 121 drones overnight, including 20 in the Ryazan region. Despite these claims, videos circulating on social media suggest that the refinery, which is operated by the state-owned Rosneft company, suffered significant damage.

The Ryazan Oil Refinery, located over 450 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, processes up to 17 million tons of oil annually, making it one of the largest refineries in Russia. It is a major supplier of motor fuel to the regions surrounding Moscow and plays a pivotal role in supporting Russia’s energy infrastructure and military logistics.

Earlier, drones targeted an oil depot in the town of Lisky, located in Russia’s Voronezh region, marking the second attack on the facility in less than a week and reigniting the fire in it.