Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Drone Attack Damages Russia’s Novoshakhtinsk Refinery, Suspending Operations
Drones attacked an oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region.
The refinery was damaged and temporarily stopped working.
Russian officials said air defenses destroyed about 50 drones overnight.
The refinery mainly sells fuel to other countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine carried out strikes against several Russian targets.
He described the attacks as a response to Russian strikes.
The claims about the full scope of the damage differ between the Russian and Ukrainian accounts.
The attacks happened while officials were discussing a possible ceasefire involving energy facilities.
A drone attack damaged the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region.
Governor Yuri Slyusar said about 50 drones were destroyed overnight and refinery operations were temporarily suspended.
The refinery has an annual capacity of 5 million metric tons, or about 100,000 barrels of oil daily.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine also struck a refinery in Perm, a defense plant in Ulyanovsk, and two radar stations.
The strikes followed discussions about a possible Moscow-Kyiv ceasefire covering energy-related targets.
- Who
- Russian regional authorities reported the damage, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed responsibility for wider strikes.
- What
- A drone attack damaged the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery and temporarily halted its operations.
- When
- Overnight before Friday, September 25, 2026.
- Where
- The Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Russia’s Rostov region.
- Why
- Zelenskyy said the strikes were retaliation for Russian attacks and aimed at limiting Russia’s ability to conduct further attacks.
Ukrainian Account
Russian Account
Scope and responsibility
Ukrainian Account
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine struck two oil refineries, including Novoshakhtinsk, as well as a defense enterprise and two radar stations.
Russian Account
Rostov Governor Yuri Slyusar reported that air defenses destroyed about 50 drones and confirmed damage to the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, but the article did not provide a broader Russian account of the alleged strikes.
Reason for the attack
Ukrainian Account
Zelenskyy described the strikes as a response to Russian attacks and said they were intended to reduce Russia’s ability to conduct attacks.
Russian Account
Russian authorities focused on the overnight drone attack, air-defense response, and temporary refinery shutdown rather than publicly stating a motive in the article.
Ceasefire context
Ukrainian Account
The Ukrainian account presented the strikes alongside discussions of a possible ceasefire on energy-related targets and Zelenskyy’s warning that Ukraine would retaliate.
Russian Account
The article reports the diplomatic discussions but does not include a Russian position on the proposed energy ceasefire.
- Reported drone activity
- About 50 drones were reported destroyed by Russian air defenses over the Rostov region.
- Refinery status
- Novoshakhtinsk refinery operations were temporarily suspended after the attack.
- Refinery capacity
- The refinery has annual capacity of 5 million metric tons of oil, or approximately 100,000 barrels per day.
- Primary market
- The refinery mainly sells fuel for export.
- Additional Ukrainian claims
- Zelenskyy said strikes also hit facilities in Perm and Ulyanovsk and two radar stations in Rostov.
- Diplomatic context
- The strikes followed discussions about a potential bilateral ceasefire covering energy-related targets.