Deadly Ukrainian Strikes in Southern Russia Force Oil Refinery to Shut Down

Aug. 25, 2026 @exilenova_plus / Telegram At least two people were killed in a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks in southern Russia that targeted two oil refineries, forcing at least one facility to halt operations, regional officials said. In the Krasnodar region, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev wrote in a post on Telegram that falling drone debris killed two people and injured two others during a strike on the Afipsky oil refinery, which sparked a fire at the facility. Authorities in the neighboring Rostov region said that the Novoshakhtinsky refinery sustained damage and temporarily suspended processing operations following a separate attack. Both refineries have previously been targeted in drone strikes. Ukraine began intensifying its attacks against Russian oil refineries earlier this year, driving widespread fuel shortages across the country this summer. The latest strikes follow an August 21 attack on the Perm oil refinery, which was forced to shut down operations after drone impacts ignited fires and damaged key technical processing units, industry sources told Reuters. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Drones , Krasnodar , Rostov 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 Ukraine Strikes Oil Refinery in Southern Russia Authorities in the city of Taganrog evacuated some residents from their homes following a separate strike on a seaport. 1 Min read Ukrainian Drone Attacks Spark Blazes at Seaport and Oil Refinery in Southern Russia Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defense systems destroyed nearly 150 drones overnight across Russia and in annexed Crimea. 2 Min read Ukrainian Drone Strikes Cause Blackouts in Rostov, Oryol Regions The Defense Ministry said its air defense systems destroyed nearly 100 Ukrainian drones across Russia overnight. 2 Min read 3 Killed in Rostov Region as Russia and Ukraine Exchange Overnight Air Attacks Authorities in Kyiv, meanwhile, said Russian strikes on the city killed at least six people and injured 14 others, including a child. 2 Min read