Ukrainian drones damage area near major Russian oil refinery

Drozdenko did not specify what part of the industrial area was damaged, but the town of Kirishi is home to one of Russia's largest oil refineries, Surgutneftegaz's Kirishinefteorgsintez plant, which was repeatedly targeted by Ukraine last year.

According to industry sources, the refinery processed 17.5 million tonnes of oil (350,000 barrels per day) in 2024, which amounted to 6.6 per cent of Russia's total oil refining volumes. It produced two million tonnes of gasoline, 7.1 million tonnes of diesel, 6.1 million tonnes of fuel oil and 600,000 tonnes of bitumen.

Russia's Baltic Sea ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, major exporting outlets, suspended crude oil and oil products loadings after Ukrainian drone attacks on Wednesday, two sources said.

Russian officials said earlier on Wednesday a fire broke out at Ust-Luga after a Ukrainian drone attack.

(Reporting by Ksenia Orlova; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Jamie Freed)