Massive Fire Erupts at Russian Oil Refinery After Long-Range Drone Attack, Video

Strike drones hit a major Russian oil refinery in the city of Yaroslavl overnight, triggering a large fire at one of the country’s largest fuel-processing facilities, according to OSINT-community Exilenova+ and Russian media Astra on December 12.

According to available information, drones struck the Slavneft–YANOS oil refinery, a key industrial site that ranks among Russia’s largest refineries by capacity. Following the impact, a major blaze broke out on the facility’s grounds.

Reports of the attack began circulating on social media shortly after 3 a.m. local time, with residents describing a series of explosions in the area surrounding the plant.

Earlier in the night, Yaroslavl regional governor Mikhail Yevrayev warned of a “drone threat” in the region.

Soon after, photos and video emerged online showing a large fire and a thick column of smoke rising from the Slavneft–YANOS refinery, which is located more than 700 kilometers (435 miles) from Ukraine’s border.

The refinery has a processing capacity of roughly 15 million tons of crude oil per year and ranks fifth nationwide in primary oil refining volume. The facility was previously reported to have caught fire following a drone strike on October 31.

The refinery produces a wide range of petroleum products, including automotive gasoline, jet fuel, and industrial lubricants.

Its customers include major industrial enterprises across Russia’s Central and Northwestern regions, as well as airports, the Northern Railway administration, and facilities tied to Russia’s military-industrial complex.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed later that its air defenses allegedly intercepted 90 drones overnight.

Earlier, Ukraine carried out its first-ever strike on Russia’s offshore oil infrastructure in the Caspian Sea, disabling a major production platform with long-range drones.

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