Ukraine reportedly strikes Russian Lukoil oil refinery despite calls to reduce attacks amid rising fuel prices

On the night of April 5, 2026, Ukrainian drones launched an attack on the Lukoil oil refinery located in the Russian city of Kstovo, according to reports from Russian Telegram channels. Eyewitness accounts shared on social media describe large flames erupting at the facility, illuminating the night sky. The explosions were reportedly so powerful that they could be seen from a considerable distance, likely originating from the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez plant situated in Nizhny Novgorod.

This strike occurred against a backdrop of acknowledgment by Ukrainian officials that foreign allies had urged Kyiv to pause drone attacks on Russian oil refineries due to rising fuel prices globally, a situation exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel in Iran. "Let’s respond to this diplomatically. We are receiving certain signals in this regard," stated Kyrylo Budanov, head of the President’s Office, in an interview with Bloomberg published on April 4, without specifying which countries had requested Ukraine to halt its attacks.

Local Russian Telegram channels reported the approach of Ukrainian drones prior to the strikes. As of now, Russian officials have not commented on this particular attack. The Kyiv Independent has been unable to verify these reports, and Ukrainian military representatives have also refrained from providing comments regarding the incident.

The oil refinery, which has previously been targeted by Ukrainian strikes, is located approximately 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Ukraine has been consistently targeting military and industrial sites within Russia using long-range drones, with oil refineries frequently becoming prime targets. Kyiv considers these facilities legitimate military objectives as they supply fuel and financing to support the Kremlin's military operations.

The United States imposed sanctions on Lukoil and another Russian energy giant, Rosneft, in October 2025, freezing Lukoil's assets in the U.S. and threatening secondary sanctions against foreign entities that engage with them. These sanctions, which were among the first measures enacted by the second Trump administration, were designed to pressure Moscow into initiating peace negotiations regarding Ukraine, as revenues from fossil fuels play a crucial role in sustaining Russia's military efforts.

Despite the sanctions, following the outbreak of war in Iran, the U.S. Treasury issued a temporary license on March 12, allowing countries to purchase Russian oil that is currently stranded at sea in an effort to stabilize global energy prices. Oil prices have surged amid the escalation of the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has now entered its sixth week. Throughout this conflict, energy facilities in the Middle East have become targets, while Iran has also closed the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes.