Ukraine says it struck major Russian oil refinery, pumping station

Editor's note: This story was updated to include Ukraine's General Staff confirmation of strikes against the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery and the Yaroslavl-3 oil pumping station.

Ukraine struck one of Russia's largest oil refineries and an oil pumping station on May 18 and May 19, Ukraine's General Staff said, after Russian officials reported drone attacks in Yaroslavl Oblast and near Moscow.

Ukrainian forces struck the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, the General Staff said, where a fire was recorded on the facility's territory on May 18.

Ukraine also struck the Yaroslavl-3 oil pumping station near the settlement of Semibratovo in Yaroslavl Oblast, the General Staff said on May 19, adding that the  extent of the damage was still being clarified.

The General Staff said the refinery "is one of the largest oil refining enterprises of the Russian Federation" with a processing capacity of around 17 million tons of oil annually. According to the Ukrainian military, the facility produces gasoline, diesel fuel, and aviation fuel "used to support the needs of the Russian occupation forces."

Earlier on May 19, explosions were reported in the Russian city of Yaroslavl following a reported drone attack, according to local Russian media and officials.

Yaroslavl Oblast Governor Mikhail Yevrayev said the region had come under a drone attack and announced traffic restrictions on a key highway leading toward Moscow. Authorities temporarily closed part of the route and urged residents to avoid the area.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also reported an allegedly repelled drone attack on the capital, saying four drones were shot down and citing "falling debris."

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Yaroslavl is located about 700 kilometers (435 miles) from Ukraine's border with Russia and lies approximately 230 kilometers (142 miles) northeast of Moscow, while Rostov-on-Don is situated in southern Russia roughly 230 kilometers (140 miles) from the front line in Ukraine.

Ukraine regularly strikes oil infrastructure deep inside Russia and the occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow's capacity to continue waging war on Ukraine.