Ukrainian drones expose weakness in Russia’s air defenses with strike on key Ryazan targets

On the night of January 24, Ukrainian forces launched a precision drone strike on several industrial facilities in Ryazan, Russia. Among the targets were a high-capacity oil refinery, an oil storage facility, and the Novo-Ryazan thermal power plant, all located on the city’s southern outskirts. 

The attack, reportedly involving just 12 drones, caused fires and visible damage that could not be concealed by Russian authorities, according to Defense Express.

The refinery, one of Russia’s top facilities with an annual processing capacity of 16–18 million tons, had previously been targeted in 2024 and was supposedly protected by anti-drone measures, including metal cable barriers. 

Despite these defenses and the city’s strategic importance—home to the Dyagilevo airbase and a key aviation repair plant—Russian air defense systems failed to prevent the strike.

The incident underscores the vulnerability of Russia’s critical infrastructure, even in areas presumed to be well-defended. 

Ukrainian drones managed to penetrate hundreds of kilometers into Russian territory, traversing multiple border regions with concentrated military deployments. This latest attack not only damaged critical industrial assets but also exposed significant weaknesses in Russia’s air defense capabilities.