Drone Strike Destroys Fuel Tank at Penza Oil Depot

Satellite imagery has confirmed the damage caused by the strike on the Penzanefteprodukt oil depot in Penza, Russia.

The images, provided by Planet Labs and published by Radio Svoboda, show at least one fuel storage tank completely destroyed, along with visible thermal damage to several adjacent tanks.

A fire at the facility burned for more than two days, making it unlikely that the depot can continue operating in its current condition.

The attack occurred on the night of January 23 and was carried out using kamikaze drones.

Several explosions were heard in the Russian city at around 4:00 a.m. local time. Shortly afterward, residents reported seeing black smoke and a fire in one of the districts.

Despite claims by local authorities that the incident was caused by the “fall of debris,” the actual damage indicates direct hits and the detonation of drone warheads.

Penza is located more than 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
The “Penzanefteprodukt” oil depot is part of the Rosneft structure and plays a critical role in the logistical support of Russian occupation forces.

The facility is one of the largest in the region, supplying fuel to both the civilian sector and military units directly involved in the war against Ukraine.

The Penza oil depot contains 18 storage tanks for light petroleum products. The total capacity of the tank farm is approximately 21,600 cubic meters; the site uses vertical steel tanks of the RVS type.

The depot functions as a regional transshipment and distribution hub, receiving products by rail and road transport.

At the regional level, it is connected to main oil pipelines (the Kuibyshev–Bryansk main pipeline route), which enables supply from the pipeline network.