Ukraine Expands Drone Campaign, Striking Russia’s Fourth-Largest Oil Refinery
Ukrainian drones struck one of Russia's largest oil refineries, the Lukoil refinery in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Region, causing a fire on the premises.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Militarnyi.
Local residents reported several explosions in the area of the plant and posted videos of the fire, which quickly spread on social media.
Regional authorities confirmed the attack, stating that air defense forces allegedly intercepted five drones and that there were no casualties or significant damage. The consequences of the strike are currently being clarified.
The LUKOIL-Nizhegorodneftorgsintez refinery is the fourth largest oil refinery in Russia with an annual capacity of 17 million tons.
The enterprise processes oil from Western Siberia and Tatarstan and has a developed product transportation infrastructure.
In recent years, the plant has modernized its production. For example, in 2022, a new oil residue processing complex was launched, which increased the production of Euro-5 diesel fuel, and in 2021, a PENEX isomerization system was launched, which doubled gasoline production.
The refinery is also a key producer of raw materials for asphalt and plastic, so an attack on it could have a significant impact on Russia's oil refining industry.
The Gaze previously informed that Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and export ports have forced Transneft, Russia’s oil pipeline monopoly, to warn of potential production cuts due to limited storage capacity and infrastructure damage.
The strikes have temporarily reduced Russia’s refining capacity by nearly 40%, threatening one of the Kremlin’s main sources of revenue.
Moreover, Russia has imposed a partial ban on diesel exports and extended its gasoline export ban until the end of 2025 following severe fuel shortages caused by intensified Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries.
As The Gaze reported earlier on August 11, Ukrainian drones belonging to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (HUR) struck an oil refinery in Ukhta, more than 2,000 km (1,243 miles) from the Ukrainian border, hitting the Lukoil-Ukhta Oil Refinery.