Ukrainian forces strike Russia's Syzran Oil Refinery, drone production facility in Taganrog, military confirms

Ukrainian forces struck the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast and a drone production facility in the Russian city of Taganrog overnight on Sept. 15, Ukraine's General Staff confirmed.

The General Staff said a direct hit and fire were recorded at the Syzran refinery, part of Russia's state-owned oil giant Rosneft. The AVT-6 primary oil refining unit and the facility's tank farm were hit, according to the statement.

The refinery has an annual crude oil processing capacity of around 8.9 million metric tons and produces gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, and other petroleum products.

Samara Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said that over 40 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the region's territory.

An industrial site was damaged and windows were shattered in several residential buildings, Fedorishchev said, without specifying the location or the names of the affected facilities.

Fires ignited at several different points within the complex after the site was hit by Ukrainian drones, according to Telegram channel Exilenova Plus.

In southern Russia's Taganrog, Ukrainian forces struck the premises of Atlant Aero, where explosions and a fire were reported, the General Staff said.

Atlant Aero manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles and components, including the Molniya strike and reconnaissance drones, as well as components for Russia's Orion unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

"Russia continues to attack our energy sector, regular logistics, and critical infrastructure. And our responses to them for this are tangible," Zelensky said on X.

Zelensky confirmed Ukrainian strikes on Taganrog and Syzran, adding that Ukrainian forces hit a drone preparation and launch site in Oryol Oblast, as well as "targets in the Black Sea," without providing further details.

Ukrainian missiles also reportedly struck a warehouse belonging to major Russian online retailer Ozon, Rostov Oblast Governor Yuri Slyusar said. At the same time, Kyiv has not commented on the reported attack on the warehouse in Taganrog.

Windows were shattered in two residential buildings. Another three houses were damaged, as well as an educational institution, a gas pipeline, a commercial building, a grocery store, and warehouses belonging to an agricultural company, the governor added.

The details could not be immediately verified by the Kyiv Independent.

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.

Overnight on Sept. 14, Ukrainian forces reportedly struck the southern Russian Black Sea coastal city of Sochi, causing fires and explosions throughout the city, as eyewitness videos purported to show.

Ukrainian forces also hit energy infrastructure in the occupied city of Mariupol late on Sept. 13, as a fire continued to burn in southern Russia's Taganrog following an earlier attack, monitoring channels reported.