Kazakhstan Denies Its Territory Was Used in Drone Strike on Omsk Refinery

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has firmly denied claims that drones involved in an attack on Russia’s Omsk oil refinery were launched from Kazakh soil. 

The foreign ministry issued the statement in response to an enquiry by Kazakh media outlet TengriNews after several Russian media outlets claimed that the drones Ukraine used to strike the Omsk oil refinery may have been launched from Kazakhstan due to the region’s proximity to the Kazakh border. 

“We regard such publications as unreasonable insinuations aimed at distorting the traditionally friendly nature of Kazakh-Russian relations, which are successfully developing in the spirit of comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance,” the foreign ministry said.

It added that the Russian statements “are not true and are not confirmed by any data or facts.”The speculation came after Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) made what it called its deepest strike of the war, launching drones that traveled roughly 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) to hit the largest oil producing refinery for the first time.

Kazakh territory “cannot be used” against other states

The foreign ministry addressed the broader question regarding the country’s airspace and whether its infrastructure is being used for hostile acts.

“We emphasize that the Republic of Kazakhstan proceeds from the fact that its territory, airspace and infrastructure cannot be used to carry out actions against other states,” the foreign ministry stated.

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Kazakhstan restricts vehicle entry fro Russia to once per day

On Wednesday, Kazakhstan cut vehicle entry from Russia to once per day, stepping up border checks for illegal fuel smuggling as Russian drivers flock to border towns looking for cheaper gasoline.

Deputy Energy Minister Kayirkhan Tutkyshbayev said demand had spiked in border regions such as West Kazakhstan, Aktobe and Pavlodar, with lines forming at local gas stations. 

Authorities are focused on catching vehicles rigged with extra fuel tanks being used to smuggle gasoline out of the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed the fuel shortages as “not critical,” accusing Kyiv of trying to create a “nervous situation in society” and damage Russia’s economy, while ordering officials to urgently resolve the crisis in occupied Crimea, where shortages have hit the hardest.

The Omsk oil refinery – a broader pattern of Ukrainian strikes

The strike reportedly damaged the refinery’s primary oil-processing unit – a critical component of one of Russia’s most important fuel facilities –  following a broader wave of Ukrainian strikes on critical Russian oil and energy infrastructure aimed at slowing down Russia’s war machine.

The Omsk refinery processed 22 million metric tons of crude oil (about 440,000 barrels per day) in 2024 and produced approximately 5 million tons of gasoline and 8 million tons of diesel. Ukrainian military authorities reported that the refinery was the last of Russia’s 11 largest gasoline producers to be targeted.

Ukraine set an all-time wartime record in May alone, by launching drone attacks against Russian oil refineries 16 times, alongside 10 additional strikes on transit pipelines, storage depots, and maritime export terminals, prompting Moscow to totally ban jet fuel exports in June, lasting through Nov. 30. Zelensky called the strikes a “fair response” to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, adding that Russia “must feel” the consequences of the war it chose to wage.