Ukrainian Drone Strikes Cripple Over 86% of Capacity at Lukoil’s Perm Refinery

Ukrainian Drone Attacks Target Key Facilities in Russia

According to ХВИЛЯ: In the early hours of September 25, Ukrainian drones launched coordinated attacks on several strategic sites within Russia and occupied Luhansk, including the Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez oil refinery in Perm. Other targeted locations included:

• The Iskra plant in Ulyanovsk;
• Two facilities in Voronezh;
• The Novoshakhtinsk refinery in the Rostov region;
• The Stroycenter shopping mall in Luhansk.

Governors of Perm Krai and Rostov Oblast have confirmed the attacks, noting that air defense systems successfully intercepted some drones and no casualties were reported.

Severe Damage to Oil Refining Infrastructure

The Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez refinery, ranked seventh in Russia by processing volume with an annual capacity of approximately 13 million tons of crude oil, suffered significant damage to its primary crude distillation unit AVT-5, which is currently ablaze. This facility produces gasoline, diesel, aviation kerosene, and lubricants. Analysts from Dnipro Osint estimate that following previous strikes on April 30, May 7-8, July 29, and August 21, the refinery has lost around 86% of its primary processing capacity-equivalent to roughly 11.3 million tons annually.

The Iskra plant in Ulyanovsk, part of the Almaz-Antey group, manufactures components for radio-electronic equipment, communications devices, and specialized military technology. It also collaborates in producing Kh-59M2/M2A guided missiles and supplies transistor pairs for television transmitters to the Yaroslavl radio plant. In Voronezh, the attack caused a fire at the Voronezhsintezkauchuk facility, owned by SIBUR, while a blaze at an Ozon warehouse was quickly extinguished.

The Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Rostov, previously targeted by Ukrainian Neptune cruise missiles on May 31, was also hit again. The Rostov governor acknowledged the recent strike. In occupied Luhansk, the Stroycenter mall-formerly known as Epicenter-was destroyed. The Perm Krai governor described the assault as a "massive drone attack countered by air defenses and mobile fire units."

“A massive drone offensive repelled by air defense and mobile fire teams.” – Governor of Perm Krai

According to Reuters, half of Russia’s largest diesel refineries have ceased or sharply curtailed production due to these drone strikes. Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the situation, stating that Russia has effectively lost control over its diesel fuel sector.

These attacks underline the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with Ukraine aiming to disrupt critical enemy infrastructure. Damage to oil refineries could severely affect Russia’s energy security and its ability to supply domestic fuel needs. Experts warn that such disruptions may also impact global energy markets, given Russia’s role as a major oil and gas supplier worldwide.

The ongoing impact of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure is becoming increasingly evident. Following recent attacks, Russia's fourth-largest refinery has been forced to suspend operations, highlighting the significant threat these coordinated assaults pose to the country’s energy sector. This pattern of targeting critical facilities raises concerns about the vulnerability of other major installations.