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Ukraine’s Neptune Missiles Knock Out Key Oil Units at Russian Refinery in Rostov Region
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Ukrainian Neptune cruise missiles struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region on May 31, damaging key oil-processing facilities used to support Russian military operations.
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According to the Ukrainian Navy on June 3, the strike disabled two atmospheric-vacuum oil distillation units, each capable of processing up to 2.5 million tons of crude oil annually, as well as petroleum storage facilities at the site.
The Ukrainian military said the refinery plays a significant role in supplying fuel and lubricants to Russian forces operating in the war against Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Navy stated that the attack was carried out using the Neptune coastal missile system. Ukraine’s General Staff had previously reported a strike on the refinery on May 31, confirming damage to the facility’s primary oil-processing equipment and reporting a fire on the refinery’s grounds following the attack.
According to the Ukrainian military, the damaged units—identified as AVT-1 and AVT-2—are responsible for the primary stage of crude oil refining. Their loss is expected to reduce the refinery’s production capacity and affect fuel supplies in southern Russia.
The Novoshakhtinsk refinery, commissioned in 2009, is one of the largest refining facilities in Russia’s Rostov region. Various industry estimates place its annual processing capacity between 5.6 million and 7.5 million tons of crude oil.
The facility is connected to Russia’s Transneft pipeline network and rail infrastructure, allowing it to receive crude oil and distribute refined products across the country.
On June 3, Ukraine also struck Russia’s Kronstadt naval base near St. Petersburg, with Ukraine’s General Staff reporting preliminary damage to ships and port infrastructure. According to The attack targeted facilities used by Russia’s Baltic Fleet, including the missile corvette Boiky, located more than 1,100 kilometers from Ukraine.
The refinery has been targeted repeatedly during the war. According to Ukraine’s General Staff, Ukrainian forces previously struck the facility in August 2025. In December 2025, the refinery was again hit during a Ukrainian long-range strike operation, resulting in a major fire.
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