Rosneft Recruits Anti-Aircraft Gun Crews to Defend Samara Refinery Against Ukrainian Drones – Vyorstka

Oct. 9, 2026 Anti-aircraft self-propelled gun 23-4 Shilka. Russian Defense Ministry State oil giant Rosneft has advertised jobs for anti-aircraft gun and armored vehicle crews to defend a refinery in the southern city of Samara against Ukrainian drones, the exiled news outlet Vyorstka reported Friday. The listings on Russian recruitment website HeadHunter sought personnel to operate Soviet-era anti-aircraft guns and infantry fighting vehicles at the address of Rosneft’s Kuibyshev refinery, the outlet reported. The Kuibyshev refinery, on the Volga River, has been repeatedly targeted since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Applicants’ duties included intercepting aerial targets and keeping armored vehicles stationed at the refinery ready for combat, Vyorstka reported. The advertised monthly compensation totaled 249,000 rubles ($2,938), including salary, regional governor bonuses and military reserve pay. Applicants were also offered hostel accommodation, three meals a day and mandatory health and life insurance. The listings were removed and archived shortly after publication, with HeadHunter indicating that the employer was no longer accepting applications, Vyorstka said. Russia’s top business lobby told President Vladimir Putin in May that recruiting reservists to guard major companies was difficult because they were regularly rotated to other facilities. Russian businesses spent more than 441 million rubles ($5.3 million) on anti-drone protection in the first half of 2026, a more than sixfold increase compared to the previous year. In August, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing the state to place strategically important facilities under temporary administration if their operators were deemed to have failed to protect them adequately from Ukrainian attacks or repair damage quickly. The measure covers industrial, communications, transport and logistics facilities considered important to national security and economic stability. Putin later said the decree had “nothing to do with any plans for nationalization” of private property. Read more about: Drones , Ukraine war , Rosneft , Oil 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 Ukrainian Drones Damage Ust-Luga Port Again Ukraine has struck Baltic Sea ports multiple times over the past week in a bid to deprive Russia of windfalls from soaring oil prices. 2 Min read Ukrainian Drones Target Rosneft Refinery in Samara – Reports Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted 118 Ukrainian drones, including 18 over the southern Samara region. 1 Min read Spill Discovered in Black Sea After Ukrainian Strike on Tuapse Oil Terminal – BBC It is the latest in a series of oil spills in the Black Sea in recent months. 2 Min read Ukrainian Drone Strikes Slash Russia’s Fuel Exports to Lowest Level Since Early 2022 – Bloomberg The ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure have reduced fuel exports to their lowest levels since the invasion of Ukraine... 2 Min read