Ukraine’s precision attack shakes Russia’s key oil hub for second time VIDEO

Ukraine’s Defence Forces carried out a targeted strike on the Saratov oil refinery in Russia’s Saratov region during the night of October 16, says official statements from the General Staff and Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"On the night of October 16, 2025, Ukraine's Defence Forces struck the Saratov oil refinery in Russia's Saratov region," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

The refinery, one of Russia’s oldest oil processing enterprises, recorded an oil refining volume of 4.8 million tons in 2023 and is actively involved in meeting the logistical needs of Russia’s Armed Forces. The refinery is part of Rosneft’s corporate structure, the state-owned oil giant, which had a refining volume of 7.2 million tons in 2020.

The General Staff emphasized the strategic importance of the operation, stating, "Ukraine's Defence Forces are consistently implementing a set of measures to strike critical elements of the military-industrial base of Russia to deprive it of the ability to continue aggression."

The Special Operations Forces confirmed their involvement, stating, "On the night of October 16, units of the Special Operations Forces struck the Saratov oil refinery in Russia's Saratov region." They added, "The Special Operations Forces continue to carry out asymmetric actions aimed at stopping the enemy."

This latest strike follows a series of attacks on the facility. On August 10, a drone strike caused explosions and a fire, leading to the temporary suspension of oil intake at the Rosneft-owned refinery. Another drone attack on September 16 resulted in further explosions and fire at the site.

The Saratov refinery produces a broad range of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, various grades of bitumen, technical sulfur, and over 20 other petroleum derivatives, according to the General Staff.

By Vafa Guliyeva