Considered one of Russia’s largest oil refineries was hit by Ukrainian drones, sparking a fireplace on Sunday, Russian officers and Ukraine’s army stated.
The strike on the Kirishi refinery, in Russia’s northwestern Leningrad area, follows weeks of Ukrainian assaults on Russian oil infrastructure that Kyiv says fuels Moscow’s conflict effort. The power, operated by Russian oil main Surgutneftegas, produces roughly 17.7 million metric tons of crude per yr – equal to about 355,000 barrels per day – and is one in every of Russia’s prime three oil producers by output.
In response to Ukraine’s Basic Workers, explosions and a fireplace had been reported on the refinery. It posted a photograph showing to point out a blaze and clouds of smoke towards an evening sky.
Ukraine’s drone command confirmed it attacked the refinery and stated it had “carried out a successful strike”.
Regional Gov. Alexander Drozdenko stated three drones had been downed in a single day within the Kirishi space, with falling particles sparking a fireplace on the facility. He stated nobody was injured, and the blaze was extinguished.
Russian officers didn’t instantly touch upon the results of the strike. Not less than 80 Ukrainian drones had been shot down in a single day over Russia, occupied Crimea and the adjoining Sea of Azov, in line with the Russian Protection Ministry.
Russia stays the world’s second-largest oil exporter however a seasonal rise in demand and sustained Ukrainian drone strikes have induced gasoline shortages in current weeks. To attempt to ease the scarcity, Russia has paused gasoline exports, with officers on Wednesday declaring a full ban till Sept. 30 and a partial ban affecting merchants and intermediaries till Oct. 31.
On Saturday, President Trump referred to as on NATO international locations to cease shopping for Russian oil as a solution to finish the greater than three-year conflict in Ukraine.
Mr. Trump posted on Fact Social on Saturday a letter purportedly despatched to NATO during which he stated he’s “ready to do major Sanctions on Russia” on the situation that each one NATO international locations cease shopping for Russian oil. The president stated the army alliance’s dedication to profitable the conflict in Ukraine “has been far less than 100%” and the acquisition of Russian oil by some members is “shocking.”
“It greatly weakens your negotiation position, and bargaining power, over Russia,” Mr. Trump wrote.
Since 2023, NATO member Turkey has been the third-largest purchaser of Russian oil, after China and India, in line with the Europe-based Centre for Analysis on Power and Clear Air. Different members of the 32-state alliance concerned in buying Russian oil embody Hungary and Slovakia.
In the meantime, the European Union is sticking to its deadline to part out Russian oil and gasoline imports by 2028, it determined final week, regardless of strain from the U.S. to maneuver extra rapidly, Reuters reported.
A Russian drone strike destroys a automotive restore store in Sumy, Ukraine, on September 12, 2025.
Francisco Richart Barbeira/NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures
Drones have emerged as a key weapon for each side. A number of Russian drones crossed into Poland on Wednesday, prompting NATO to ship fighter jets to shoot them down and underlining long-held considerations that the preventing may spill over past Ukraine’s borders.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed reporters that NATO responded to the drones “appropriately” and that the U.S. believes it was an “unacceptable and unfortunate and dangerous development.”
“There’s no doubt about the drones were intentionally launched,” he stated. “The question is whether the drones were targeted to go into Poland specifically. If that’s the case, that if the evidence leads us there, then, obviously, that’ll be a highly explanatory move.”
