Ukrainian drones strike major Kirishi oil refinery in Russia's Leningrad region
Ukrainian drones attacked the KINEF oil refinery in Kirishi, Russia's Leningrad region, overnight, causing explosions and a major fire. The plant is Russia's second-largest refinery by processing capacity and a key fuel supplier for St. Petersburg and northwestern Russia. Debris reportedly fell on residential buildings in Kirishi and Vsevolozhsk, where one woman was reported killed.
Key points
- The attack on the KINEF refinery in Kirishi took place overnight, on the night of November 8–9, 2026.
- A large fire broke out after a series of explosions; satellite imagery captured the blaze.
- Preliminary data says the primary oil-processing unit ELOU-AVT-2 caught fire and ELOU-AVT-6 and ELOU-AT-6 were hit.
- The refinery has a projected capacity of about 20–21 million tonnes of oil per year and is Russia's second-largest refinery by processing capacity.
- KINEF belongs to Surgutneftegas and supplies gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel and other products to St. Petersburg and northwestern Russia.
- Debris reportedly fell on a residential building in Vsevolozhsk, killing a woman on an upper-floor apartment; a 35 kV power line was also disconnected.
- Russian officials gave conflicting figures of 93 and 113 drones reportedly shot down over Leningrad region.
Why it matters
Kirishi is one of Russia's largest refineries and its second by processing capacity, with about 20–21 million tonnes of oil per year. Its output includes gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel, making it important for supplies to St. Petersburg and Russia's northwestern regions. The strike caused a major fire and reportedly damaged several processing units, while debris falling on residential buildings caused a reported death, an evacuation and a power outage. The plant is also sanctioned by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom.
What happened
Ukrainian drones attacked the Kirishi oil refinery, KINEF, in the industrial zone of Kirishi in Russia's Leningrad region overnight, on the night of November 8–9, 2026. Leningrad region governor Oleksandr Drozdenko confirmed drone strikes in the industrial zone. A series of explosions was followed by a major fire, captured in satellite imagery. Preliminary data indicated that the primary oil-processing unit ELOU-AVT-2 caught fire and that ELOU-AVT-6 and ELOU-AT-6 were hit. Debris reportedly fell into an apartment in Kirishi and onto the roof of an apartment building in Vsevolozhsk, where a woman died on an upper floor; residents of a building on Budivelnykiv Street reported an evacuation, and a 35 kV overhead power line in Vsevolozhsk district was disconnected. The fire at the refinery was reported to have been localized. In the same night, air-raid alerts were declared at least twice in Saratov, where regional officials reported damage to civilian infrastructure and an attack on the Saratov oil refinery.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian media foreground the strike on one of Russia's largest refineries, its scale and strategic role in fuel supplies, the resulting fire and the reported damage to processing units. Reports also cite Russian regional officials, local residents, satellite imagery and OSINT analysis to document the consequences, while noting Russian claims about intercepted drones and falling debris in residential areas.
Where reporting differs
Russian officials gave conflicting figures for the number of drones reportedly shot down over Leningrad region, with claims of both 93 and 113. The Russian Defence Ministry also reported 430 Ukrainian drones downed overnight, a figure that was not independently confirmed.
Background
The Kirishi refinery has operated since 1966 and belongs to the Surgutneftegas group. It is located about 100 kilometres from St. Petersburg and roughly 800 kilometres from Ukraine's border. A previous attack on 30 August 2026 reportedly damaged two primary-processing units and halted oil refining at the plant. The refinery also caught fire after attacks in May 2026 and September 2025. The strike followed Ukrainian attacks on the Saratov oil refinery and other Russian energy facilities earlier in November 2026.