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Satellite Data Shows Fire Near Russian Saratov Refinery, Possible Damage to S-400 Air Defenses
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Independent OSINT researchers have detected possible damage to Russian air defense systems near a major refinery in Saratov following overnight Ukrainian strikes, OSINT specialist Jembob reported on September 16.
NASA’s FIRMS satellites recorded thermal signatures consistent with a fire in the deployment zone of S-300/S-400 surface-to-air missile systems adjacent to the Saratov oil refinery.
A fire has been recorded by FIRMS today at the S-300 / 400 base in the south west of the Saratov refinery.
— jembob 🇺🇦 (@jembobineuse) September 16, 2025
(Pins are the third shown coordinate in the FIRMS window)
No further information yet.
51.426980, 45.926040 pic.twitter.com/2sZyLa52Ou
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that the refinery itself was struck overnight between September 15 and 16. Russian air defense systems were positioned just outside the facility’s perimeter.
Meanwhile, another OSINT researcher, known as AS-22, identified the radar component of the destroyed system as a 96L6E, which he said suggests the refinery was being protected by an S-400 battery.
The full extent of the damage to both the refinery and the nearby Russian air defenses remains unclear. Analysts expect additional satellite imagery to provide further confirmation in the coming days.
Earlier, reports emerged that Ukraine’s battlefield successes have left Russia so short on advanced air defense that Moscow was asking Türkiye to sell back the very S-400 missile systems it once exported there.
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