Ukraine Expands Deep Drone Strikes on Russian Oil Sector as Refinery Attacks Intensify

Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone campaign , striking Russia’s Syzran oil refinery in the Samara region in another attack on Moscow’s critical energy infrastructure.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drones hit the facility overnight, causing a large fire and thick black smoke . The refinery, operated by Rosneft and located over 800 km from the Ukrainian border, is among Russia’s key fuel-processing plants.

Local Russian authorities reported two deaths in Syzran , though it remains unclear whether they were directly linked to the refinery strike. Independent verification of the extent of damage has not been possible.

The Syzran attack is part of a broader Ukrainian strategy targeting Russian oil infrastructure, which Kyiv describes as “long-range sanctions” aimed at reducing Moscow’s war revenue. Ukrainian forces say multiple refineries have been hit this month alone, including repeated strikes across Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, and other regions.

Reports suggest that Syzran’s facility processes millions of tons of crude oil annually , making it strategically significant. Analysts say sustained attacks have contributed to temporary shutdowns or reduced output at several Russian refineries , affecting fuel supply chains.

Russia’s defence ministry said it intercepted over 100 Ukrainian drones overnight, while also reporting civilian casualties in separate regions such as Belgorod from additional strikes.

The Institute for the Study of War said Ukraine’s expanding drone capability has disrupted Russian logistics and operational capacity , while enabling deeper penetration into Russian territory than in previous phases of the war.

Both sides continue to intensify aerial attacks, underscoring the growing dominance of unmanned warfare in the conflict.