One of Russia’s largest oil refineries has been forced to halt operations following a wave of Ukrainian drone strikes, dealing a fresh blow to Moscow’s energy infrastructure. On Tuesday, May 5, the Kirishinefteorgsintez oil refinery in Russia’s Leningrad region suspended activity after three of its four crude distillation units were damaged, according to two industry sources cited by Reuters. The facility is understood to be the country’s second-largest refinery.
The attack forms part of a broader escalation in Ukraine’s long-range drone campaign, which has intensified over the past two months. The strategy focuses on targeting critical elements of Russia’s oil industry, a key pillar of its war economy. Satellite data from NASA’s FIRMS monitoring service recorded thermal anomalies at the refinery site, indicating possible fire damage in the aftermath of the strike, United24 Media reports.
Ukrainian drones directly targeted the facility in the town of Kirishi, causing large-scale disruption. Leningrad region governor Alexander Drozdenko said Russian air defences had intercepted 18 drones over the area, adding that emergency crews were working to contain fires caused by the incident.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) later confirmed the operation, stating that the attack was carried out by its Alpha unit in coordination with Special Operations Forces and Unmanned Systems Forces. According to the SBU, three primary crude distillation units, essential to the initial stage of oil refining, were struck, resulting in an ongoing blaze. A separate strike reportedly hit a storage tank containing petroleum products at a nearby pumping station.
The refinery has previously been targeted by Ukrainian forces. Reuters reported that an earlier strike damaged a key processing unit, temporarily reducing output.
In 2024, the Kirishi refinery processed approximately 17.5 million tonnes of crude oil, representing around 6.6% of Russia’s total refining capacity. Its output included roughly 2 million tonnes of petrol, 7.1 million tonnes of diesel fuel, 6.1 million tonnes of fuel oil, and about 600,000 tonnes of bitumen.
