Ukrainian Drones Strike Afipsky Oil Refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Region, Causing Fire

Drone Attack Confirmed by Kyiv

Ukrainian forces conducted a drone attack on the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region overnight between September 25 and 26, 2025. Kyiv's General Staff confirmed the strike, stating that the operation aimed to 'reduce the Russian offensive potential and disrupt fuel and ammunition supplies to its military units'.

Russian authorities acknowledged the incident, reporting that debris from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) struck one of the refinery's units, sparking a fire. The blaze, which covered an area of approximately 30 square meters, was swiftly extinguished, and no casualties were reported.

Afipsky Refinery: A Strategic Target

The Afipsky oil refinery, located in the Krasnodar Krai, is recognized as one of the largest refineries in southern Russia. It plays a crucial role in supplying fuel to Russian forces, primarily producing petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel. Its annual processing capacity is approximately 6.25 million tons of oil, representing over 2% of Russia's total oil refining capacity.

The refinery is part of the Safmar Group and has been in operation since 1963. Its strategic importance makes it a recurring target for Ukrainian drone operations.

Context of Escalating Strikes

This latest attack on the Afipsky refinery is part of an ongoing series of Ukrainian strikes against Russian energy infrastructure. The refinery itself has been targeted multiple times previously, including on August 7, August 28, and in February 2025.

Ukraine has intensified its campaign against Russian oil facilities since early August, with reports indicating that these strikes have disabled at least five major refineries. According to Reuters calculations, these attacks have cut Russia's refining capacity by an estimated 17%, or about 1.1 million barrels per day. Industry sources suggest that gasoline output has fallen by roughly 10%, leading to the closure of over 300 filling stations across Russia and significant increases in wholesale gasoline prices.

In response to the overnight attacks, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 55 Ukrainian drones across various regions, including three over the Krasnodar Krai.