Ukrainian Drones Set New Distance Record in Strikes on Two Lukoil Refineries

Drone Attack Targets Russian Oil Refineries

According to Главком: In a long-range operation, Ukrainian drones struck two major oil refineries in Russia owned by the Lukoil company on the night of February 11, 2026. The attacks caused significant damage to critical processing equipment, forcing a halt in production. These strikes are part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to target Russia's energy export capabilities, a key source of revenue for its military.

Volgograd and Ukhta Refineries Hit

The first target was the Volgograd Oil Refinery, where the primary oil processing unit CDU-1 (ELOU-AVT-1) was damaged. This single unit accounted for roughly 40% of the plant's total capacity, processing approximately 18,600 tons of oil (about 140,000 barrels) per day. Additional damage was reported to the AVT-3 unit and other infrastructure. In 2024, the Volgograd facility processed 13.5 million tons of oil, representing about 5% of Russia's total refining volume. Annually, the refinery produces around 6 million tons of diesel fuel and nearly 2 million tons of gasoline.

Simultaneously, the Security Service of Ukraine's (SBU) Alpha Special Operations Center targeted the Ukhta Oil Refinery, located in the Komi Republic some 1,750 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The Ukhta plant, also part of the Lukoil structure, processes about 4.2 million tons of oil annually. Preliminary reports indicate that the strike damaged an atmospheric-vacuum distillation unit and a visbreaking unit, which are essential for the primary processing of crude oil and the production of commercial fuel oil, gasoline, and gasoil. Following the impacts, a fire and heavy smoke were observed at the Ukhta site.

This dual strike established a new record for the distance of a Ukrainian drone operation, successfully hitting a target 1,750 km from Ukrainian territory.

The incident underscores Ukraine's growing capability to conduct deep strikes against strategic Russian infrastructure. Attacks on key refineries can inflict substantial economic damage, potentially disrupting fuel supplies for the Russian military and domestic market. The record-breaking flight distance also highlights the rapid technological advancement of Ukraine's domestic drone industry.