One of Russia’s largest oil refineries, the Kirishi facility in the Leningrad region, was hit by Ukrainian drones over the weekend, sparking a fire and highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of Moscow’s energy sector. The refinery, operated by Surgutneftegas, processes around 355,000 barrels per day (17.7 million metric tons annually), making it one of Russia’s top three refineries by capacity.

According to Ukraine’s General Staff, multiple explosions rocked the refinery overnight, with images shared online showing flames and thick smoke rising into the night sky. Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed that three drones were intercepted, but falling debris ignited the blaze. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and emergency crews managed to extinguish the fire.

The strike comes amid a series of escalating Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, aimed at disrupting fuel supplies that support Moscow’s war operations. Analysts warn that repeated hits on refineries could threaten Russia’s energy exports, a key source of revenue for the Kremlin.

The incident also underscores broader security risks in the region. Just days earlier, Russian drones strayed into Polish airspace, prompting NATO to deploy fighter jets—an alarming reminder that the conflict could spill beyond Ukraine’s borders.