War

Russia's second largest oil refinery, airbase targeted by Ukrainian forces in strikes across Russia

2 min read
A bright spark flies over a cityscape under a night sky
What purports to be a Ukrainian attack on an oil refinery in the Russian town of Kirishi in Leningrad Oblast overnight on Aug. 30, 2026. (Exilenova Plus/Telegram)

Ukrainian forces targeted a major oil refinery in northwestern Russia's Leningrad Oblast and an airbase in Krasnodar Krai overnight on Aug. 30, Ukraine's General Staff confirmed after earlier reports of the attacks on Telegram channels.

Russia's second largest oil refinery, the Kirishi Petroleum Organic Synthesis plant, also known as the Kinef plant, was set ablaze after it was struck by Ukrainian forces in Leningrad Oblast, Ukraine's General Staff reported.

The facility can produce 20 million metric tons of oil per year and is subject to Western sanctions against Russia enacted by Ukraine's allies, including measures imposed by the U.S. It produces fuel used by the Russian armed forces.

Leningrad Oblast Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko confirmed a "drone crash has been reported in the vicinity of a refinery in the Kirishi district, resulting in a fire" as 62 drones were shot down over the region.

Meanwhile, an airbase was struck in the town of Yeysk in Russia's Krasnodar Krai region, where eyewitnesses reported that a series of strong explosions occurred.

The General Staff also reported that a storage and launch site for unnmaned aerial vehicles was destroyed in in Millerovo, Rostov Oblast, Russia.

Ukrainian drones were also reported in Russia's Smolensk Oblast by Telegram channel Exilenova Plus, citing eyewitness footage, but it remains unclear if any targets were struck.

Smolensk Oblast Governor Vasily Anokhin earlier announced that an air raid siren is in effect due to the threat of drones.

Explosions were reported in Bryansk Oblast earlier in the night, although authorities didn't immediately comment on the situation.

The details could not be immediately verified.

Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep within Russia and the occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow's ability to continue waging its war.

Ukrainian forces struck a Rostov-on-Don warehouse belonging to Russian e-commerce giant Ozon the night prior on Aug. 29, the company announced, as sites across southern Russia's Rostov Oblast were reportedly targeted.

Ukrainian forces also struck several Russian military targets in occupied Ukrainian territories during an overnight operation on Aug. 29, according to the General Staff.

Ukraine targeted Russian facilities used to store, prepare, and launch attack drones in the occupied city of Donetsk, as well as in the village of Hvardiiske near Simferopol in occupied Crimea, according to the General Staff.

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Volodymyr Ivanyshyn

News Editor

Volodymyr Ivanyshyn is a news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He is pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto, majoring in political science with a minor in anthropology and human geography. Volodymyr holds a Certificate in Business Fundamentals from Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto. He previously completed an internship with The Kyiv Independent.

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