Ukrainian drones attack Yaroslavl oil refinery, sparking major fire

Ukrainian drones attacked the Yaroslavl oil refinery in Russia overnight into Tuesday, 3 November, setting off a large fire at the site. Ukrainian Telegram channels, the independent Russian news outlet Astra and local authorities reported the strike. It came during the Russia–Ukraine war and hit one of the key fuel-producing facilities in central Russia.

The facility

Astra says Slavneft-YANOS is one of the five largest oil refineries in Russia. It belongs to Slavneft, which is controlled by the state-owned companies Rosneft and Gazprom Neft. The plant makes petrol, diesel, fuel oil, aviation gasoline, lubricating oils and other petroleum products.

Among other things, it supplies fuel to the Moscow region. Its customers also include facilities of Russia's military-industrial complex and the Russian army.

What Ukrainian sources report

Information published by NEXTA says 124 drones were used in the attack, a fire broke out at the facility and infrastructure was damaged. Two workers suffered shrapnel wounds and were taken to hospital. A missile alert was declared across the region during the attack, and the road from Yaroslavl to Moscow was closed. Local residents reported three fires on the refinery grounds.

According to NEXTA, the refinery processes about 15 million tonnes of oil a year. This is the second time since the start of autumn that Ukraine has hit the site. The previous attack was on 17 September, when a processing unit responsible for about 40% of the plant's capacity was damaged and operations were suspended.

Ukrainian commentator Roman Sheremeta described it as the fifth hit in five days. The source gives no official confirmation of the extent of the damage.