According to Ukrainian statements, both the Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk facilities play critical roles in Russia’s refining capacity. Ryazan, about 193 kilometers from Moscow, can process 340,000 barrels of crude per day, while Novokuibyshevsk handles over 177,000. Together, they make up nearly 10% of Russia’s total refinery capacity. The attacks are consistent with Ukraine’s expanded targeting of oil infrastructure, a move designed to cut off fuel supplies to Russian military units and reduce Moscow’s oil export revenues.

Rosneft PJSC, the state-run energy giant that owns both refineries, did not comment publicly. Meanwhile, Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorischev confirmed that a man was killed by falling drone fragments at an industrial site. Ryazan’s Governor Pavel Malkov reported UAV debris hitting an enterprise but offered no casualty details.

The drone strikes followed a major Russian attack on Kyiv last Thursday, where at least 31 people were killed and 159 wounded—including 16 children—during hours of sustained missile and drone bombardment.

Ukraine’s Pressure Tactics Escalate As War Nears Fourth Year

The latest attacks underscore Ukraine’s shift toward deeper strikes inside Russian territory as the war approaches its fourth year. Ukrainian forces have increasingly targeted Russian fuel, logistics, and defense facilities, seeking to blunt the Kremlin’s ability to sustain its military operations.

While the scope of damage remains unclear, Saturday’s coordinated drone operation marks one of the boldest cross-border campaigns in recent months. Western analysts view these energy-sector strikes as part of a broader attrition strategy aimed at degrading Russia’s operational endurance.

Neither the Kremlin nor the Russian Ministry of Defense issued an immediate response to the Ukrainian claims. Independent verification of the full extent of damage remains pending.