Large-scale fire erupts at Ryazan Oil Refinery following drone strike
A local oil refinery in Ryazan, Russia, came under a drone attack, triggering a powerful explosion and a massive fire on the facility's grounds. Eyewitness accounts and video footage of the strike were shared online by local residents. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Юлія Маловічко), according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Numerous videos published online captured Russian air defence systems operating, followed by a powerful explosion and a bright glow over the industrial site. Shortly after the blast, a thick column of smoke rose above the refinery. The explosion was preceded by air raid sirens in the area.
Damage Assessment and Official Response
Official sources have so far refrained from commenting on the extent of the destruction or the damage caused to the facility’s infrastructure. Governor of Ryazan Oblast Pavel Malkov has not yet issued any public statements regarding the outcome of the overnight strike on the region.
Strategic Importance of the Facility
The Ryazan Oil Refining Company is part of Rosneft and operates as one of the largest oil processing facilities in Russia. With a design capacity of approximately 17 million tonnes of crude oil annually, it plays a vital role in supplying fuel to Moscow and central Russian regions.
The plant produces a wide range of petroleum products, including motor gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, and bitumen. Additionally, it manufactures jet fuel and specialized components used to supply Russian military aviation.
Previous Strikes on the Refinery
The facility has been repeatedly targeted by unmanned aerial vehicles. Similar drone strikes were reported multiple times throughout the current year, including in May, July, September, and October.
During a confirmed attack on October 15, a fire broke out at the plant following a widespread drone strike. That incident shut down the primary crude distillation unit CDU-6 and damaged several interconnecting pipelines.
Photo: RBC-Ukraine
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