A major oil refinery in the Volgograd region of Russia has caught fire.
As a result of drone debris falling in the Volgograd region on Friday, January 31, a fire broke out at an oil refinery, injuring one worker. This was reported by the region's governor, Andrey Bocharov.
On the night of January 31, drones attacked several regions of Russia. In the Volgograd region, a fire occurred at the oil refinery due to the attack. Explosions were heard around 3 AM local time.
According to Russian Telegram channels, the drones targeted the "Lukoil" oil refinery located directly in Volgograd.
Governor Andrey Bocharov noted that the fire at the oil refinery was caused not by a direct hit but by the falling debris of a drone. He also did not specify which particular refinery was affected.
“In the Volgograd region, an attack by eight drones was repelled. Due to the debris from one of the drones falling on the territory of the oil refinery, a fire broke out, which was promptly extinguished,” he stated.
At the same time, Bocharov claims that one worker was injured as a result of the attack and has been hospitalized.
The head of the Center for Counteracting Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, noted that the Volgograd oil refinery is one of the largest in Russia.
“Its designed processing capacity is about 14 million tons of oil per year, making it the sixth largest refinery in Russia. The plant produces gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, and aviation fuel,” the report states.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that on the night of January 31, a total of 49 drones were repelled:
- 25 drones over the Rostov region,
- 8 over the Volgograd region,
- 6 over the Kursk region,
- 4 over the Yaroslavl region,
- 2 over the Belgorod region,
- 2 over the Voronezh region,
- 2 over the Krasnodar territory.
Updated at 12:11. Later, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the strike on the oil refinery.
“Units of the drone forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces, struck LLC 'Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka' in the Volgograd region on the night of January 31, 2025,” the report states.
As a result of the attack, flashes and explosions were recorded in the vicinity of the strategically important plant for the Russians. The results of the fire damage are being clarified.
It is worth noting that the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in the Rostov region suspended operations following the drone attack. Damage to equipment has been reported at the facility. Last year, the refinery processed about 3 million tons of oil.