Deadly Drone Attack Sparks Massive Blaze at Afipsky Oil Refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Region

A fire broke out at the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region following a drone attack, local authorities have confirmed. Governor Veniamin Kondratyev stated that at least two people were killed and two others were injured due to falling drone debris at the Afipsky railway station.

Ukraine has been actively targeting Russia’s oil refineries and other infrastructure in an effort to undermine Moscow’s war efforts and reduce financial revenue. Ukraine’s General Staff reported that its forces struck facilities at Afipsky, alongside a gas processing plant in Russia’s Astrakhan region overnight.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed its forces struck a cargo vessel carrying goods for the Ukrainian army in the port of Pivdennyi near Odesa, as well as port infrastructure facilities used for unloading military cargo. The ministry added that Russian air defences successfully shot down 148 Ukrainian drones overnight.

With Ukraine ramping up attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and escalating a domestic fuel crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing the state to take temporary control of critical infrastructure deemed inadequately protected.

These developments follow a meeting in Kyiv where Ukraine’s allies pledged ongoing support for the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told leaders in an evening address that he aims to increase production of drones and missiles to conduct more attacks on Russia. The gathering included 30 leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, featuring British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who urged allies to help expand Ukraine's capacity to strike deeply inside Russia. In response, the Kremlin stated that Burnham and Stubb belong to the "party of war".