One of Russia’s Largest Oil Refineries Erupts in Yaroslavl After Deep Drone Strike

Long-range drones struck the Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery in the Russian city of Yaroslavl overnight on April 25–26, causing a large fire at one of the country’s key fuel production facilities.

According to OSINT monitoring group Exilenova+ and local Russian Telegram channels on April 26, multiple drones hit targets within the refinery complex, including a vacuum distillation unit. Russian regional authorities did not confirm a direct strike on the facility as of the morning, despite visible fire and explosions reported in the city.

Local sources cited by Russian Telegram channel “Radar Yaroslavl” reported that the attack began around 00:40 local time, with residents hearing more than a dozen explosions and observing flashes in the sky, likely linked to Russian air defense activity. Witnesses said windows shook in residential areas and car alarms were triggered during the incident.

The Slavneft-YANOS refinery is located more than 700 kilometers from Ukraine’s border and is one of the largest oil processing plants in Russia. The facility has an annual processing capacity of up to 15 million tons of crude oil, placing it among the top five refineries in the country.

The plant produces a wide range of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, and lubricants. Its output supplies major industrial consumers across central and northwestern Russia, as well as transport infrastructure and elements of the military-industrial sector.

Earlier, long-range drones reached Russia’s Ural region for the first time on April 25, striking targets in Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk more than 1,800 kilometers from Ukraine. Explosions and air defense activity were reported in both cities, with potential targets including defense-linked and industrial facilities.

Protect Ukrainian Skies

Subscribe to Sky Defense