The Ukrainian military confirmed overnight strikes on major Russian oil and gas facilities in Samara and Orenburg regions, located roughly 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine’s frontline, targeting infrastructure that supports Moscow’s war effort.
In the early hours of Oct. 19, Ukrainian forces attacked the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery in Samara Oblast, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement on social media.
The refinery produces more than 20 types of commercial products, with an annual primary processing capacity of 4.9 million tons. Explosions and a fire were reported on-site, and preliminary reports indicate that the refinery’s primary oil processing units (ELOU-AVT) were damaged.
“The facility is involved in supplying the Russian military,” the General Staff said in a statement.
The Novokuibyshevsk refinery has been a repeated target of Ukrainian drone attacks. Last month, the facility temporarily suspended operations after damage to its infrastructure.
In August, production was halted after drones damaged the atmospheric column of the primary oil processing unit (AVT-11).
Earlier reports also indicated a drone strike on the Orenburg gas processing plant, owned by Gazprom, which is the world’s largest gas chemical complex with a processing capacity of 37.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
Local authorities reported infrastructure damage and a fire in one workshop, with no injuries. NASA FIRMS monitoring recorded a fire near the fractionation unit and tank area. The plant is located approximately 1,500 kilometers from the front line.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 45 drones over 11 regions, including Crimea, claiming 12 were destroyed over Samara and one over Orenburg.
Since August, Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities and pipelines. Bloomberg reported that nearly one-third of Russian refineries have been affected.
Kyiv Post earlier reported that the US, under President Donald Trump, reportedly provided the necessary intelligence to help Kyiv strike Russian oil facilities across the country in a secret bid to push Moscow towards negotiations.
As of early October, the attacks reportedly shut down 38% of Russian oil refineries and prompted an oil crisis inside Russia, with sales restrictions on gasoline and diesel introduced in multiple regions.
The attacks have caused gasoline shortages in 57 Russian regions, forcing authorities to halt exports, increase imports from Belarus, and begin importing from China and other Asian countries.
Fuel prices have also surged, with Rosstat reporting a 2.58% increase in September, the highest monthly rise since 2018, and a year-on-year growth of 12.73%, the highest in 14 years.