A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack struck Russia's Yaroslavl region overnight on 3 November, damaging one of the country's largest oil refineries and injuring two employees.
Regional governor Mikhail Yevrayev reported that Russian air defences had intercepted 124 drones over the region. He confirmed damage to oil refinery infrastructure and said two workers had suffered shrapnel injuries.
Footage published by independent Russian outlet Astra appeared to show multiple fires at the Novo-Yaroslavsky refinery, operated by Slavneft-YANOS. At least five major fire locations were visible in the footage, although the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
Slavneft-YANOS is among Russia's five largest oil refineries, processing approximately 15 million tonnes of crude oil annually. The facility is owned by Slavneft, jointly controlled by Rosneft and Gazprom. The refinery supplies fuel to central and northwestern Russia, including Moscow and the surrounding region. Its customers also include airports and defence industry facilities. This is the second reported attack on the refinery since September.
A drone strike on 17 September damaged a processing unit responsible for approximately 40% of the plant's capacity, forcing a temporary suspension of operations.
The latest strike follows a renewed series of Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. Since 30 October, reported targets have included the Novokuibyshevsk refinery, Bashneft's refinery in Ufa, Lukoil's NORSI refinery in Nizhny Novgorod region and the Samara oil pumping station, a major Transneft distribution hub.
The operational impact of the latest attack on Slavneft-YANOS has not yet been independently confirmed.
