Zelenskyy: Major Russian refinery shuts down after Ukrainian drone strikes

Ukraine launched a successful strike on a major Russian oil refinery located in the Yaroslavl region, situated approximately 1,000 kilometers away from the front line, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed the attack, which resulted in a fire at the facility, as reported by UATV English.

The Slavneft-YANOS refinery is one of Russia's largest, with an annual processing capacity of around 15 million tons of crude oil. This facility produces essential petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, fuel oil, bitumen, and other petroleum products. Its strategic importance is heightened by the fact that it contributes to supplying Russia's military requirements, making its disruption a crucial objective for Ukraine's long-range strikes aimed at diminishing Russia's capacity to finance and continue its war efforts.

This strike is part of Ukraine's broader campaign against Russia's oil and energy infrastructure. The Yaroslavl refinery has been targeted multiple times throughout 2026, with the latest operation marking the eighth strike on the facility in the same year. In a separate operation, SBU special forces in Engels reportedly targeted a Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber, the aircraft utilized by Russia to carry out missile assaults on Ukraine.

Ukraine has increasingly showcased its capability to strike strategically significant Russian military and energy installations deep within Russia, significantly expanding the reach of its long-range capabilities.