Ukraine launched one of its largest reported overnight drone assaults of the war, striking the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region and triggering at least 11 fires at the facility. The refinery, owned by Russian energy giant Rosneft, has an annual processing capacity of approximately 8.8 million tons and produces petroleum products, including fuel used by the aviation sector. Footage and initial reports of the attack highlighted the scale of the damage as Ukrainian drones targeted critical Russian energy infrastructure. According to the available reports, the operation involved FP-1 long-range drones, reflecting Ukraine’s continued efforts to strike facilities supporting Russia’s military logistics. The refinery attack comes amid an ongoing campaign aimed at disrupting Russia’s ability to process and distribute fuel.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses intercepted 1,043 Ukrainian drones overnight across 19 regions, making the reported barrage one of the largest single-night attacks of the conflict. The extensive drone activity also prompted temporary airport closures and aviation restrictions, including at airports in Moscow and Samara. The latest strikes come shortly after reports suggested Ukraine had temporarily reduced attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, possibly amid pressure from Washington. The renewed assault highlights the continued importance of energy facilities in the wider war, particularly as Ukraine seeks to undermine fuel supplies that could support Russian military operations. However, the full extent of the refinery damage and the operational impact on its production capacity remain unclear.