Ukrainian forces struck two major Russian oil refineries in Ufa and Samara on Sept. 21 and overnight into Sept. 22, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed.
The strikes hit the Bashneft-UNPZ Oil Refinery in Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan, around 1,300 kilometers (808 miles) from the Ukrainian border, and the Kuibyshev oil refinery in Samara Oblast, around 910 kilometers (565 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Fires were reported at both facilities, according to the General Staff.
The Bashneft-UNPZ Oil Refinery has an annual processing capacity of around 7.5 million metric tons of oil and produces gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, liquefied gases, sulfur, and other petroleum products.
The Kuibyshev refinery, part of the state-owned Rosneft oil company, has an annual processing capacity of around 7 million metric tons. The plant produces gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and more than 30 other petroleum products.
Products from both refineries are used to supply the Russian military, the General Staff said.
Eyewitness footage collected by Ukrainian monitoring channels Exilenova+ and Supernova+ showed a large fireball illuminating the sky near the Kuibyshev refinery. Videos filmed later appeared to show smoke and fires at the plant.
An analysis by the Russian opposition news channel ASTRA also identified the Kuibyshev refinery as the site of the attack.
The Samara plant has been targeted in previous Ukrainian strikes. A June 10 attack halted oil processing at the refinery.
The Sept. 22 strikes are the latest in Ukraine’s campaign against Russia’s oil refining industry, which Kyiv says supports Moscow’s war effort.
Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries have emerged as one of the most economically significant aspects of Kyiv’s long-range drone strategy, contributing to nationwide fuel shortages and sharply reducing refinery output over the summer.
Half of Russia’s six largest diesel-producing refineries have cut or completely halted output in September following Ukrainian drone attacks.
As Ukraine continues to target Russian energy facilities, U.S. President Donald Trump has called for Kyiv to halt its strikes on oil refineries, claiming the attacks were contributing to a global diesel shortage as his war against Iran disrupts fuel supplies worldwide.
“Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump said on Sept. 13. “Let him go after targets, but not diesel fuel, because he’s causing a shortage of diesel.”