In a major strike, Ukrainian HUR drones hit Russia’s Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery, a key facility which produces jet fuel for its supersonic jets. The attack took place early morning on Monday.
The refinery is situated in Russia’s Samara region and is approximately 900 kilometres away from the nearest Ukrainian border. The refinery is the one which produces jet fuel for Russia's Su-27 fighters and Tu-22M3 bombers used to attack Ukraine.
Eyewitnesses reported explosions at the refinery which were heard across multiple districts of the city, according to Kyiv Post. Russian media also reported attacks on the refinery. Russian news outlet Astra reported that explosions rocked Samara and fires broke out at the facility. Another Russian news outlet reported that a fire had broken out over an area of 1,500 square metres in a warehouse at the refinery.
Despite it being one of the most powerful refining facilities owned by Russia with a design capacity of over 8.8 million tons of oil per year, it has not yet finished installing a protective net against drone attacks.
This is the second time that the refinery has come under attack since March 2024.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense also reported intercepting drones in the region, including three over Samara Oblast, two each over Voronezh and Oryol, and one each over Belgorod and Kursk.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has claimed that Ukrainian drones struck and destroyed 22% more Russian targets in February, compared to January. The most effective of the weapons were FPV drones and multirotor bombers.
“In February, the number of enemy targets hit and destroyed increased by 22% compared to January. Our FPV drones and multirotor bombers deliver the most effective strikes,” Syrskyi said.
However, he noted that Russia was quickly adapting to Ukrainian drone tactics and expanding its own drone capabilities. "I received another intelligence briefing regarding the formation of Russia’s Drone Forces, where they have established a dedicated command structure, created rapid-response UAV units, and are developing fiber-optic controlled drones," he told Ukrainian media.