A massive drone barrage struck an oil refinery in the Russian city of Yaroslavl, sparking a fire and injuring two workers in the largest reported attack on the region, Governor Mikhail Evraev has said.
Russian air defenses and electronic warfare units battled 124 incoming UAVs overnight, Evraev stated. The assault damaged critical infrastructure at the refinery while falling drone debris struck nearby homes and vehicles.
“124 drones in total,” Evraev wrote on his official channel. “The refinery’s infrastructure has been damaged. Emergency services are working to extinguish the fire.”
Two refinery workers suffered shrapnel wounds and were rushed to hospital. Debris from intercepted drones shattered windows in apartment buildings and private homes, damaging parked cars. The overnight assault triggered widespread security measures, including shutting down Yaroslavl airport, blocking a key highway connecting the city with Moscow, and diverting public transport. A missile alert was briefly declared before restrictions were lifted later that morning.
This attack marks the heaviest drone strike on Yaroslavl Region since the start of the Ukraine conflict, according to Kommersant. The previous record was set in August with 93 UAVs intercepted and four injuries reported. In September, a separate assault involving 65 drones targeted the same refinery.
The latest strikes come despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s September announcement that “Ukraine has agreed not to hit Russian Energy targets.” Trump had previously urged Zelensky to stop targeting Russian refineries, warning that such actions were driving up global diesel prices.
However, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has since made halting refinery strikes conditional on Washington supplying Kiev with Patriot interceptor missiles. “If you need us not to attack their refineries, give us a one-month package,” he told Fox News on Monday.
This escalation occurs as Moscow and Washington push ahead with a diesel supply deal aimed at easing soaring U.S. fuel prices. Russia has reportedly begun shipments under the agreement despite repeated Ukrainian attacks on its refineries.