Ukraine strikes Russia’s second-largest oil refinery in Leningrad region

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces reported this.

On the night of September 14, operators of the 14th Separate UAV Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces, together with Special Operations Forces units, successfully struck Russia’s second-largest oil refinery, Kirishinefteorgsintez, in the Leningrad region. The strike was carried out from over 800 km away from Ukraine’s state border.

Kirishinefteorgsintez is the main supplier of petroleum products for Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad, Novgorod, and Pskov regions. Its processing capacity exceeds 20 million tons of oil per year, making it the second-largest refinery in the country after the Omsk plant.

The facility produces about 80 types of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and aviation jet fuel, and is directly involved in supplying the Russian army.

The drone strike caused a massive fire at the facility, confirmed by NASA FIRMS satellite monitoring. The extent of the damage is still being determined.

Earlier, the regional governor reported the alleged “shooting down of drones” in the Kirishi district. However, videos appeared online showing a fire at the Kirishinefteorgsintez refinery.

According to Russian Telegram channels, the fire spread to the facility’s processing units. OSINT researchers analyzing the footage suggest the strike hit the ELOU-AVT-6 crude distillation unit, though the full extent of the damage can only be assessed after satellite images are released.

At 05:18 a.m., the governor of the Leningrad region claimed “three drones were destroyed” and confirmed the fire at the refinery, attributing it to “falling debris.” According to the official version, the fire has already been extinguished.

The Kirishinefteorgsintez refinery processes up to 20 million tons of oil per year, supplying all types of fuel and products for the petrochemical, paint, construction, and chemical industries.

Also, in the Perm region, drones attacked a workshop at the Metafrax plant, a major producer of ammonia, urea, and methanol.

Russian Ministry of Defense statement

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported an alleged massive attack by Ukrainian drones and claimed that air defense systems “intercepted and destroyed” 80 aircraft-type drones over Russia and occupied Crimea.

According to the Russian ministry, the drones were allegedly shot down as follows:

• 30 over Bryansk region
• 15 over Crimea
• 12 over Smolensk region
• 10 over Kaluga region
• 5 over Novgorod region
• 3 over the Sea of Azov
• 2 over Leningrad region
• 1 each over Oryol, Ryazan, and Rostov regions

• Over the past day, Russia’s occupying army lost 880 servicemen in the war against Ukraine, as well as dozens of units of equipment and weaponry.