Ukraine claims major overnight drone strike on one of Russia’s largest oil refineries as Moscow reports significant industrial damage
Ukraine said its forces targeted one of Russia’s largest oil refineries in a major overnight drone attack, while Russian authorities confirmed significant damage to an industrial facility in the same area without identifying the site.
The attack targeted the NORSI refinery in Kstovo, in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region east of Moscow, according to Ukrainian reports. The Lukoil-operated facility is Russia’s fourth-largest refinery and one of its biggest gasoline producers.
Regional Governor Gleb Nikitin said the Kstovsky district came under a “massive UAV attack” overnight and that an industrial enterprise sustained “significant damage.”
Nikitin said more than 100 drones were destroyed and preliminary information indicated there were no casualties. Emergency crews were working at the site.
He warned that repair work could temporarily disrupt electricity, hot water and heating supplies in parts of the surrounding area.
Footage circulating online appeared to show a large fire at the NORSI refinery, although Russia has not officially identified the damaged industrial facility as the refinery.
The plant processes roughly 15 million to 17 million metric tons of crude oil annually and produces gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel. It is located around 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and has been targeted repeatedly during Kyiv’s campaign against Russia’s energy infrastructure.
The attack comes days after Ukraine rejected reports that it had agreed to suspend strikes on Russian refineries under pressure from the Trump administration.
A senior Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent that Kyiv would continue targeting Russian oil infrastructure but could avoid publicly claiming responsibility for some attacks to prevent tensions with Washington.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Friday that Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries had resumed, with three refineries and a gas-chemical complex recently targeted.