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One of Russia's largest refineries in southern Urals hit by Ukrainian drones, SBU source confirms

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One of Russia's largest refineries in southern Urals hit by Ukrainian drones, SBU source confirms
A fire broke out at the Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery in Russia's Orenburg Oblast on Oct. 3, 2025. (SBU)

Ukrainian drones attacked the Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery in Russia's Orenburg Oblast on Oct. 3, a source in Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent.

The facility lies about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) from Ukraine-controlled territory.

Founded in 1935, Orsknefteorgsintez is one of the oldest and largest refineries in the southern Urals, with an annual capacity of 6.6 million tons of crude oil.

Regional Governor Evgeny Solntsev confirmed the attack but claimed operations at the refinery were not disrupted. He said emergency services were working at the site.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

According to the SBU source, an evacuation was announced at the facility.

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A fire broke out at the Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery in Russia's Orenburg Oblast on Oct. 3, 2025. (SBU)

The facility produces motor gasoline, Euro 5 diesel, jet fuel, bitumen, and lubricants, serving as the only refinery in Orenburg Oblast and a key part of Russia's domestic energy network.

Ukraine has intensified drone strikes on Russian refineries in recent months.

"SBU continues to cause significant harm to the Russian economy by targeting facilities in the Russian oil and gas industry," the source said. "The reduction in oil dollar revenues to the budget directly affects the aggressor's ability to continue the war against Ukraine."

"Nearly 40% of Russia's oil refining capacity is currently out of operation."

Sixteen of Russia's 38 oil refineries have been targeted since August 2025, according to the Financial Times.

The attacks have pushed Russian diesel exports to their lowest level since 2020.

Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries spark fuel shortages, export bans, and price hikes
Over the past week, Ukraine’s Armed Forces carried out new strikes on Russian oil refineries, forcing Russian authorities to extend a ban on gasoline exports and announce the introduction of a partial ban on diesel exports. Ukraine’s sustained campaign of strikes on refineries is now causing mild havoc at gas stations in Russia and occupied Crimea, with prices skyrocketing and short-term shortages widely reported. While, for now, these strikes are unlikely to cause massive disruptions to globa
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Tim Zadorozhnyy

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Tim Zadorozhnyy is a reporter at The Kyiv Independent, covering foreign policy, U.S.-Ukraine relations, and political developments across Europe and Russia. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations and European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa, working there for two years from the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. After relocating to Warsaw, he spent a year and a half at the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, initially as a news anchor and later as managing editor.

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