Drone Strike Ignites Major Fire at Russian Oil Refinery
VORONEZH, RUSSIA – A large fire erupted at the Voronezh oil refinery, one of Russia’s largest, on September 14, 2025, following a Ukrainian drone strike. The attack, confirmed by regional authorities, has disrupted a meaningful portion of Russia’s oil processing capacity and raised concerns about potential fuel shortages.
The incident underscores the escalating tempo of Ukrainian attacks targeting Russian energy infrastructure, a strategy aimed at disrupting Moscow’s war effort by limiting its financial resources and logistical capabilities. The Voronezh refinery, capable of processing approximately 300,000 barrels of oil per day, plays a crucial role in supplying fuel to central and western Russia. Its temporary shutdown will likely strain domestic supply chains and perhaps impact export volumes.
According to Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Voronezh region, the fire broke out after drones struck the refinery complex in the early hours of Saturday. Emergency services were dispatched to contain the blaze,and there were initial reports of at least one casualty. Gladkov stated that the refinery suspended operations as a precaution.
Ukrainian officials have not directly claimed responsibility for the attack, maintaining a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding strikes inside Russian territory. However,sources within Ukrainian intelligence suggested the operation was carried out using domestically produced drones with an extended range.
Following the strike, Russian state media reported that air defenses had intercepted several drones over the Voronezh region. Prior to this incident, Russia had accused Ukraine of launching numerous drone attacks targeting Moscow and other regions, often focusing on infrastructure critical to the war effort.Russian officials have consistently blamed Western countries for supplying Ukraine with the technology and intelligence needed to carry out these attacks.
