Overnight on 26 September, Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ published a video, showing flames engulfing one of the processing units of the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, southern Russia. Russian officials later confirmed the incident but offered a familiar explanation: “drone debris” crash as a cause for the fire. The factory is located about 400 km from the frontlines.

The Afipsky refinery, owned by the Safmar group, is one of the largest in southern Russia. It processes 6.25 million tons of oil annually—more than 2% of Russia’s total refining capacity—and produces diesel fuel, gas gasoline, gasoil, fuel oil, and sulfur. The facility plays a key role in supplying fuel to Russia’s military.

Another fire at Afipsky refinery as Russia blames falling drone debris

Authorities in Krasnodar Krai claimed the fire was caused by debris from a downed drone falling onto one of the refinery’s installations. The official statement reported no casualties and said the fire had allegedly covered only 30 square meters before being extinguished by emergency services. Operational and special units were said to be working at the site.

Fragments of a drone also ostensibly fell on a street in the settlement of Golubitskaya in Temriuksky District. Officials again stated there were no injuries or infrastructure damage.

Russian military claims to have intercepted 55 drones overnight

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that its air defense forces intercepted or suppressed 55 Ukrainian drones during the night. Among them, three were allegedly downed over Krasnodar Krai. Others were said to have been intercepted over the Sea of Azov (20), Rostov Oblast (14), and Russian-occupied Crimea (14).

Repeated attacks on vital fuel facility

The Afipsky refinery has been attacked multiple times. Ukrainian forces previously struck the site on 28 August in an operation involving the 14th Regiment of Unmanned Systems and Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence. A gas and condensate processing unit was a target of that successful attack.

Earlier drone strikes on the plant were reported in June 2024 and October 2023.