Ukrainian Drones Attacks Target Russian Oil Refineries

Ukrainian drones targeted oil and gas facilities in Russia's Astrakhan and Volgograd regions overnight on February 2, 2025.

The attacks caused fires at the Volgograd Oil Refinery and a gas processing plant in Astrakhan, leading to the temporary suspension of flights at several airports, according to Russian officials and media reports.

In Volgograd, Governor Andrei Bocharov Said "Most of the drones were intercepted and neutralized, but falling drone debris caused fires at a local oil refinery."

Residents reported at least 50 explosions, with the refinery—located 500 kilometers (300 miles) from the front line—being the primary target.

In Astrakhan, Governor Igor Babushkin said on his Telegram channel that a drone crash caused a fire at a fuel and energy facility, with no casualties. Air defenses and electronic warfare systems were deployed to counter the attacks.

Astrakhan Oblast is located in southwestern Russia on the Caspian Sea coast and borders Kazakhstan. The city of Astrakhan lies nearly 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the front line in Ukraine.

The Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant, a key facility capable of processing approximately 8,340 metric tons of gas condensate per day and operated by Gazprom, was reportedly hit in the attack.

The Ukrainian military has not commented on these claims, which could not be independently verified.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that air defenses intercepted 70 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 27 over Rostov Oblast, 25 over Volgograd Oblast, seven over Astrakhan Oblast, five over Voronezh Oblast, four over Belgorod Oblast, and two over Kursk Oblast.