On the night of 22 August, drones attacked the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in the Samara Region of Russia. Following a series of explosions, a fire broke out on the refinery’s premises and thick black smoke rose above it. Footage of the blaze was geolocated by OSINT analysts. The extent of the damage and the impact of the attack on the refinery’s operations are still being assessed.
Briefly about the main points
- OSINT analysts have confirmed the location of the fire based on the footage released.
- Residents of the region heard explosions and the sound of Russian air defence systems in action.
- The oil refinery is part of Rosneft’s Samara Group of companies.
- In April, the plant suspended primary processing following the attack.
- That same night, a fire broke out at the Ozon complex in Chapaevsk.
Footage of the fire was geolocated on the company’s premises
Residents of the Samara Region reported explosions, the sounds of Russian air defences in operation and fires. Videos and photographs from Novokuybyshevsk show flames and heavy smoke in the industrial area.
OSINT analysts have established that the fire broke out on the refinery premises. It has not yet been reliably established exactly which part of the site was affected or whether any processing units were damaged.
One of the leading processing plants in the Volga region
Novokuibyshevsk refinery It has been in operation since 1951 and is part of Rosneft’s Samara group of enterprises. Its design capacity is over 8.8 million tonnes of crude oil per year, and its refining depth exceeds 75%.
The company produces around 20 types of commercial products, including motor and aviation fuel. The plant also produces jet fuel.
The preliminary strike brought primary processing to a halt
Following the attack in April 2026, the refinery suspended its primary oil processing. According to Ukrmedia News, at which point two units ceased operations: the AVT-11, with a capacity of around 18,900 tonnes per day, and the AVT-9, with a capacity of 4,700 tonnes.
The AVT-11 suffered the most damage, accounting for approximately 80% of the plant’s primary capacity. These figures relate to the attack in April and do not reflect the condition of the facilities following the night-time strike on 22 August.
A fire has been reported at the Ozon complex in Chapaevsk
The attack in the region was not limited to the oil refinery. In neighbouring Chapaevsk, a large logistics complex was hit Ozon, where a fire also broke out.
Reports over the course of a single night concerned several industrial and logistics facilities in the Samara Region. As of the morning of 22 August, details regarding the damage to the Novokuybyshevsk Oil Refinery and the implications for its operations were still being clarified.
