Drone Attack Hits Ilsky Oil Refinery in Russia

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine carried out a strike with long-range drones on the Ilsky Oil Refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai.

This was reported by Suspilne, citing sources in the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.

According to intelligence data, the drones hit one of the processing units of the Ilsky Oil Refinery.

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine noted that the refinery was part of Russia’s military-industrial complex and was directly involved in the war against Ukraine.

Information about the strikes on the Russian strategic facility is confirmed by local media, which published footage of the nighttime attack and the explosion of one of the drones.

“The fragments of the UAV were found near one of the plant’s workshops. Fortunately, no one was injured. There is also no damage. Emergency services are working at the scene,” reported the Russian media project Kub Mash.

According to the absence of footage showing fires, the drones either failed to hit the vulnerable oil rectification units, or they struck equipment that did not contain flammable substances.

The Ilsky Oil Refinery

The Ilsky Oil Refinery (LLC KNGK-INPZ) is one of the largest private oil refining enterprises in the region, playing an important role in supplying fuel to both the domestic market and for export. It is located in the village of Ilsky, the Seversky district, approximately 30 km from Krasnodar.

The facility specializes in the primary processing of crude oil and the production of petroleum products, including diesel fuel, gasoline, fuel oil, and bitumen.

Thanks to its advantageous location near the Black Sea ports of Novorossiysk and Taman, the refinery holds strategic importance for the logistics of Russian energy exports. The facility is also a key link in supplying fuel to the occupied territories of Ukraine and to military units in Russia’s Southern Military District.

It has been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian Defense Forces. In particular, a previous strike occurred in February of this year. Unlike the latest attack, that operation resulted in a large-scale fire involving petroleum products.

The facility was also targeted in 2023 and 2024. Each of those incidents was accompanied by fires in the industrial zone or fuel bunkers.

The other day the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine used modified UJ-26 Bober long-range drones with the ability to be manually controlled and a thermal imaging camera to strike Russian anti-aircraft systems in Crimea.