Regional officials said debris from intercepted drones struck storage tanks at the Slavneft-Yanos refinery, injuring four people as Ukraine targeted two Russian oil-processing facilities.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A major oil refinery in Russia’s Yaroslavl region caught fire Thursday after one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks reported in the area, according to regional officials.
Yaroslavl Gov. Mikhail Evrayev said falling debris from intercepted drones struck storage tanks at the Slavneft-Yanos refinery, prompting emergency crews to respond to the blaze. Images circulating on social media showed thick black smoke rising above the facility, though the images had not been independently verified.
Evrayev described the assault as the largest drone attack yet against the region, which lies approximately 250 kilometers, or 160 miles, northeast of Moscow.
“Today the region repelled the largest attack by enemy drones. All 93 drones were shot down by air defense and electronic warfare units,” Evrayev said in a Telegram statement.
Four people suffered shrapnel wounds, but no deaths were reported, he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier Thursday that his country’s military had struck two Russian refineries: the Bashneft-Novoil facility in the republic of Bashkortostan and the Slavneft-Yanos refinery in Yaroslavl.
Russian officials in Bashkortostan did not immediately comment on Zelenskyy’s claim.
Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian oil refineries in recent months as part of its broader campaign against Moscow’s energy infrastructure.
The strikes have contributed to fuel shortages in parts of Russia. Authorities have stabilized supplies in many regions, although government officials have acknowledged that problems persist in some areas.
The Yaroslavl refinery has been targeted by Ukraine before. It can process approximately 15 million metric tons of oil annually, equivalent to about 300,000 barrels per day.
The full extent of the damage and the effect on refinery operations were not immediately disclosed.
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