Media: Drone strike hits Russia's largest oil refinery for first time PHOTO/VIDEO/UPDATED

One of Russia's largest oil refineries was struck in a drone attack on July 6, marking the first reported attack on the facility in the Siberian city of Omsk, according to the independent outlet ASTRA.

Eyewitnesses reported an explosion and fire at the Omsk Oil Refinery (ONPZ), with videos circulating on social media showing flames at the industrial site. An ASTRA open-source intelligence (OSINT) analyst said the footage confirmed the refinery had been hit.

Omsk Region Governor Vitaly Khotsenko confirmed that drones had reached the region's northern industrial area but did not specify whether the refinery was among the targets.

“The Russian Ministry of Defence’s air defence forces are continuing to repel the enemy’s attack. Several drones managed to reach Omsk’s northern industrial hub. Emergency services are taking the necessary measures to deal with the aftermath,” Khotsenko said.

Earlier, the governor said Russian air defence systems had intercepted unmanned aerial vehicles over the Omsk region and had issued a warning about a potential drone threat based on information from military authorities.

According to the OSINT project Dnepr Osint, the attack was carried out using modernised FP-1 unmanned aerial vehicles.

“Modernised FP-1 unmanned aerial vehicles struck the ELOU-AVT-11 unit at the Omsk Oil Refinery, located more than 2,500 km from the border. Hits on the unit’s process columns have been recorded,” the group said.

The Omsk Oil Refinery, owned by Gazprom Neft, is one of Russia's ten largest refining facilities. According to the company, a modernisation programme completed in 2025 enabled the plant to achieve nearly 100% crude oil refining depth. The refinery produces more than 50 types of petroleum products and employs more than 3,300 people.

The refinery is located about 2,900 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

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Ukrainian monitoring channels have reported an apparent drone attack on the Omsk oil refinery, one of Russia's largest refining facilities and a key supplier of fuel to the domestic market.

The reports said the refinery in the Siberian city of Omsk was targeted despite being located about 2,500 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

The Omsk refinery, owned by Gazprom Neft, has an annual crude oil processing capacity of more than 22 million tonnes. It is one of Russia's most important refining complexes, producing a substantial share of the country's petrol while also supplying export markets.

By Sabina Mammadli