KUIBYSHEV REFINERY BURNS INTO A SECOND DAY AFTER UKRAINIAN STRIKE
A major fire has again been recorded at the Kuibyshev Oil Refinery in Russia’s Samara region, one day after Ukrainian drones struck the facility.
Satellite imagery from the original September 22 attack showed several fuel-storage tanks burning in the eastern section of the refinery. Analysis of the available imagery also indicates possible damage to the AVT-5 primary crude-processing unit.
The Samara region entered another drone alert overnight, while temporary restrictions were imposed at the region’s airport. However, it remains unclear whether the latest flames resulted from another successful strike, a damaged tank reigniting or the original fire spreading through the facility.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the initial operation against the refinery, which is located approximately 910 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Russian authorities have not provided a meaningful assessment of the damage, and Rosneft has not confirmed whether oil processing has stopped.
The fire comes as another component of Rosneft’s Samara refining network is already incapacitated. The Syzran refinery halted processing following a September 15 drone strike that heavily damaged its principal crude-distillation unit, with repairs expected to require at least a month.
One refinery is already offline. Another is burning for a second day. Whatever caused the renewed flames, Ukraine’s campaign is placing the entire Samara refining hub under growing pressure.