Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s second-largest oil refinery in Kirishi, Leningrad region, in a nighttime attack, several Ukrainian monitoring channels reported on November 9.
The attack caused large explosions at the oil site located around 800 kilometers north of Ukraine, the Exilenova+ and Supernova+ monitoring channels reported.
Eyewitness footage of the attacks appeared to show huge fireballs emanating from the refinery, lighting up the night sky.
NASA’s Fire Information System for Resource Management (FIRMS), which uses satellite data to detect thermal anomalies and fires, detected several hot spots at the facility.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of Leningrad Oblast, said a total of 113 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the region during the attack.
The Kirishi Petroleum Organic Synthesis Plant, also known as the Kinef Plant, can produce 20 million tons of oil per year and is subject to Western sanctions against Russia adopted by Ukraine’s allies, including measures imposed by the United States The facility produces more than 6% of Russia’s total refined oil, including a wide range of petroleum products such as fuel used by the country’s armed forces.
Previously, Ukrainian drones targeted the refinery on August 30.
On May 5, the Kirishi Oil Refinery temporarily halted processing after Ukrainian drone strikes damaged three of its four crude distillation units.
These attacks come as Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian energy infrastructure after a temporary halt requested by US President Donald Trump. Senior Ukrainian officials confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that Kyiv never accepted has AssetRussia’s unilaterally imposed energy ceasefire with Russia on October 31.
Russia has increased strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks, causing widespread power and water outages and civilian deaths.
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