Massive Drone Wave Targets Russian Oil Refineries and Ports Across Five Regions

Overnight strikes ignited fires at multiple refineries in Samara and Krasnodar, while 27 drones targeted the Leningrad region as Ukraine intensifies pressure on Moscow’s energy exports. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Fire at the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery on Aprin 18, 2026. (Photo by Exilenova+) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google A massive wave of drone strikes targeted Russian energy infrastructure across multiple regions overnight on Saturday, April 18, causing fires at several major oil refineries and port facilities. In the Samara region, the Syzran and Novokuibyshevsk oil refineries were hit by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Monitoring Telegram channels ASTRA and Exilenova+ reported a fire at an ELOU-AVT-6 refining unit in Novokuibyshevsk, with satellite imagery showing thick black smoke over the facility. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . While Governor Vyacheslav Fedoryshchev confirmed the drone activity, he only noted that one drone fell near a local maternity hospital, shattering windows but causing no casualties. The two targeted plants combined process over 16 million tons of oil annually. Simultaneously, a fire broke out at an oil depot in the Tikhoretsk district of the Krasnodar region. Local emergency services deployed 224 personnel and 56 pieces of equipment to contain the blaze, DW reported. The Novokuybyshevsk Oil Refinery processes over 8.8 million tons of crude oil per year, while the Syzran Oil Refinery processes between 7 and 8.9 million tons. Both refineries have already been targeted by drone attacks. Further strikes were reported in occupied Sevastopol, where a large-scale fire erupted at an oil depot near Cape Manganari following an attack that lasted over two hours. The Novokuybyshevsk Oil Refinery processes over 8.8 million tons of crude oil per year, while the Syzran Oil Refinery processes between 7 and 8.9 million tons. Both refineries have already been targeted by drone attacks. Other Topics of Interest Moscow Falling Back on Soviet-Style Escalation Tactics as Battlefield Gains Stall – Veteran US Diplomat Veteran US diplomat Daniel Fried says Hungary may stop acting as Putin’s agent in Europe and that Ukraine should move quickly to restore damaged ties with Budapest. In the Leningrad region, Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported that 27 drones were intercepted during an attack on the port of Vysotsk, where a fire broke out at a terminal. The strikes prompted the “Kovyor” (Carpet) emergency plan at airports in Saratov, Penza, Samara, and Ulyanovsk, while Pskov airport faced temporary flight restrictions. The overnight campaign follows a series of successful Ukrainian strikes on Baltic Sea export hubs , including Ust-Luga and Primorsk. Kyiv has framed these operations as a strategic effort to reduce Russia’s oil export revenue and respond to Moscow’s attacks on Ukrainian cities. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, previously noted that targeting Russian oil terminals strengthens Ukraine’s position in negotiations. In response to the escalating frequency of strikes – which reached near-daily levels in early April –Russian authorities recently announced the deployment of additional mobile air defense units to protect critical facilities in the northwest. However, the latest multi-region attack suggests that key energy assets remain highly vulnerable despite increased security measures.