Drone Assaults Target Krasnodar Region’s Key Oil Refineries
In the early hours of September 26, drone attacks set ablaze two major oil refineries—Ilsky and Afipsky—in Russia's Krasnodar region. Governor Veniamin Kondratyev confirmed fires at both facilities and reported that emergency teams are actively responding on site.
The Ilsky refinery, one of the largest private oil processing plants in the area, had been completing repairs following previous attacks that began after the full-scale conflict erupted. Notably, another strike was recorded on August 8. Located about 30 km from Krasnodar in the Ilskaya stanitsa of the Seversky district, Ilsky refinery processes approximately 6.6 million tons of crude oil annually. It supplies fuel to Russia’s military units in the Southern Military District as well as to temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine. During the recent assault, the plant was also targeted with rocket weapons. The Exilenova+ monitoring channel shared eyewitness photos and videos documenting the aftermath.
Regional Consequences of the Attacks
Afipsky refinery, also based in the Seversky district, suffered similar fire damage confirmed by Governor Kondratyev. Meanwhile, the city of Azov in Rostov Oblast faced its own attack. According to Exilenova+, the Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant—specializing in defense industry products—was hit, with NASA’s FIRMS satellite system detecting a fire hotspot near the facility.
Additionally, a port oil terminal in Taganrog came under assault. Prior to these events, on September 25, Ukrainian drones targeted the Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez refinery in Perm, Russia's seventh-largest oil refinery, with an annual capacity of around 13 million tons. These coordinated strikes highlight an intensifying campaign against oil infrastructure across the region.
The recent wave of attacks on energy assets in Krasnodar and other Russian territories underscores rising tensions amid the ongoing conflict. Such disruptions threaten fuel supplies critical both for civilian needs and military operations. As these assaults continue, they may significantly impact Russia’s regional power dynamics and pose serious challenges to its economic stability.