Ukraine launched a devastating drone attack on a major oil refinery in Russia‘s Samara region in the early hours of Wednesday.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s army has regularly targeted fuel depots and ammunition warehouses deep inside Russian territory, in an attempt to inflict huge damage on Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
The attacks have caused serious damage to key military facilities across the country, sowing fear and panic among the public.
In the latest incident, Ukrainian drones zeroed in on the Syzran oil refinery with deadly effect.
Local residents were awoken from their sleep by the sound of at least three explosions at 2.45am on Wednesday morning.
They reported that a huge fire was burning at the refinery, images of which were later shared on social media channels.
One video clip shows the refinery engulfed in bright orange flames with thick black smoke rising skywards.
Another major fire can also be seen to the left of the fuel depot.
Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, the region’s governor, confirmed the refinery had been hit in a post to his Telegram Channel.
He reported: “The site is being handled by emergency and operational services.
“According to preliminary information, there are no casualties. The region remains under the threat of further drone attacks.”
The airports of Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, Ulyanovsk, Kirov, and Izhevsk temporarily suspended their operations for safety reasons, according to Rosaviation.
The Syzran refinery is a subsidiary of Rosneft and produces motor and jet fuels, as well as bitumen and diesel.
The company processes West Siberian crude and feedstock from Rosneft’s oil fields in the Samara region.
It was attacked previously by drones in March 2024, suffering considerable damage at the time.
A total of at least 16 oil facilities have been attacked in Russia during January and the first part of February this year.