3 Killed as Ukraine Renews Drone Strikes Against Russian Oil Refineries

Oct. 30, 2026 Smoke billowing from what independent media identified as a Rosneft oil refinery in the Samara region following a Ukrainian drone attack on Oct. 30, 2026. Social media At least two people died in the southern Samara region while responding to fires that broke out at industrial sites targeted in Ukrainian drone attacks overnight, local authorities said Friday, while a 19-year-old was killed in a separate airstrike in the western Bryansk region. “During terrorist attacks on the civilian infrastructure of our region and country, the despicable enemy in Kyiv launched a record number of drones,” Samara region Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev wrote in a post on VKontakte. He said emergency personnel were responding to damage caused by the airstrikes, as videos circulating on social media showed large plumes of black smoke rising from multiple buildings. Fedorishchev did not say which sites were struck. The exiled news outlet Astra said it used those online videos to identify the targeted industrial facility in Samara as the Rosneft-owned Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery, which Ukraine has attacked multiple times in recent years. Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed that Ukrainian drones targeted three oil refineries and one gas chemical complex overnight, saying at least one suffered “minor damage.” He did identify the facilities by name. The attacks come after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine earlier this month, which neither side said they had agreed to beforehand. That apparent pause in strikes collapsed immediately as the Russian army continued its attacks against Ukraine's power grid. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Ukraine’s military had temporarily paused attacks on Russian oil refineries under pressure from the United States, where high domestic fuel costs are a major issue for voters ahead of next week’s midterm elections. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly told journalists that “our guys tried to be a little more careful during these days,” but added that they were not explicitly told to avoid hitting Russian refineries. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted 1,043 Ukrainian drones across Russia and annexed Crimea between Thursday night and Friday morning. Read more about: Samara , Bryansk , Ukraine war , Drones Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more At Least 3 Killed in Ukrainian Attacks Across Russia The Defense Ministry said it intercepted 375 Ukrainian drones across Russia and Crimea between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. 2 Min read Ukrainian Attacks on Western Russia Kill 2 Authorities in the Belgorod and Bryansk border regions reported one death each during overnight air attacks. 1 Min read Ukrainian Attacks on Bryansk Region and Annexed Crimea Kill At Least 4 The overnight air barrage was also said to have targeted multiple industrial sites across Russia, including an oil depot and refinery. 2 Min read Ukrainian Strikes Hit Southern Russia, Killing 1 and Wounding Several Others Unverified reports said chemical plants tied to fertilizer and explosives production were targeted in the attacks. 1 Min read