Ukrainian Drones Hit Key Unit at Russia’s Syzran Refinery

Ukrainian strike drones targeted a primary oil processing unit at the Syzran Oil Refinery, according to analysts from Exilenova+.

The drones struck the ELOU-AVT-6 unit and also damaged several storage tanks.

The unit handles atmospheric and vacuum distillation, secondary distillation, and gasoline stabilization, with a design capacity of 6 million tons of oil per year.

The disruption of this unit reduces Russia’s ability to supply fuel to its armed forces and has already affected civilian fuel availability.

Following the attack, some gas stations in the region limited gasoline sales. Analysts noted that anti-drone nets over the facility were largely ineffective.

The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that the strike was carried out by Special Operations Forces.

“On the night of August 15, in coordination with other components of the Defense Forces, we inflicted fire damage on several critical targets in Russia,” the statement said. “This includes the Syzran Oil Refinery in Samara Region, one of the largest in the Rosneft system, which produces a wide range of fuels, including aviation kerosene, and supports Russian Armed Forces operations.”

Over the past two years, Ukrainian forces have carried out multiple strikes on oil refineries deep inside Russia, primarily using long-range Bober and Lyutyi drones.

These operations have systematically limited Russia’s ability to maintain consistent fuel supplies to both military operations and the domestic market, causing local shortages and restrictions at gas stations.