Ukrainian drones have struck one of Russia’s largest oil refineries in Kirishi, Leningrad region. The resulting major fire was confirmed by both local authorities and social media footage, as officials could not conceal the incident. While authorities claim the fire was swiftly contained, experts note the refinery’s capacity has been seriously reduced.
Beyond the refinery, the attacks also hit the region’s transport infrastructure, used for shipping oil products, and railway lines, including the Orel-Kursk segment, which the Russian military uses to support operations at the Ukrainian front. Russian sources have acknowledged the attack as a large-scale, combined strike with substantial consequences for Russia’s economy and military. The events highlight the continued vulnerability of Russia’s critical infrastructure to Ukrainian strikes.
The blow to Russia's refining sector has underscored deepening challenges: Russia has had to boost discounted oil exports to India because damaged refineries cannot process all its oil production. This trend entails mounting losses and the potential need to build new facilities—a recovery only possible with peace, which Moscow is not yet pursuing.
Concurrently, strikes on railway and aviation infrastructure further strain Russian logistics, complicating the movement of troops and supplies. In light of recent US decisions easing sanctions on Belarusian aviation, Russia could potentially source spare parts for its fleet via Belarus, enhancing its military capabilities in theory.
The presence of Ukrainian drones near Russian airports forces authorities to restrict flights, impacting both civilian and military aviation. In response, Russia is using drones for strikes in Central Europe. The war of attrition is thus evolving, with economics and logistics now at the heart of the conflict.
