Massive Drone Attack Hits Russia Overnight, Targeting Oil and Military Hubs

A massive drone attack struck multiple regions of Russia overnight, with oil infrastructure and military logistics hubs among the reported targets, Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on February 26.

Russia claims interception and destruction of 128 drones, with the largest concentration over Krasnodar region and occupied Crimea:

• 83 drones over Krasnodar region

• 30 drones over occupied Crimea

• 8 drones over the Azov Sea

• 5 drones over the Black Sea

• 1 drone each over the Bryansk and Kursk regions

Despite Russian claims of intercepting all drones, reports from Russian media ASTRA suggest that key energy and logistics infrastructure sustained damage, particularly in Tuapse, a strategic port city on the Black Sea.

Residents reported around 40 explosions over Tuapse overnight, and local sources confirmed drone strikes on the city’s oil refinery.

ASTRA reported that two drones hit the Tuapse oil refinery, damaging the ELOU-AVT-12 oil processing unit and a crude oil pipeline, causing an oil spill over 5 square meters.

Additionally, a major fire broke out at the refinery, while debris from air defense activity damaged two private homes and destroyed a car.

The attack also reportedly targeted Tuapse’s seaport, a key hub for Russia’s oil, coal, and military logistics. According to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, the Tuapse port is one of Russia’s largest Black Sea oil terminals and plays a critical role in transporting fuel, military equipment, and ammunition for Russian forces engaged in the war against Ukraine.

The occupied Crimea was also hit, with explosions reported in Dzhankoi, Kerch, and Sevastopol. According to Russian reports, air defenses engaged multiple targets over the Black Sea, though the extent of the damage remains unclear.

Earlier, the Ryazan oil refinery, one of Russia’s five largest, with an annual processing capacity of 17.1 million tons, was targeted by a drone attack for a third time this year.