RUSSIAN OIL REFINERY HALTS OPERATIONS AFTER DRONE ATTACK

September 25, 2026

MOSCOW: Russia’s Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in the southern Rostov region has temporarily suspended operations after being damaged in an overnight drone attack, regional Governor Yuri Slyusar said on Friday. Russian air defences reportedly destroyed around 50 drones over the region during the attack.

Slyusar said there were no casualties at the refinery. The facility, which is one of the important petroleum-product suppliers in southern Russia, has previously been affected by drone attacks and operational disruptions.

The attack was part of a wider overnight wave of drone strikes reported across several Russian regions. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air-defence forces destroyed 592 drones, while officials also reported deaths and injuries in other regions, as well as damage to industrial infrastructure and a passenger train.

Reuters said it could not independently verify the Russian officials’ accounts, and there was no immediate comment from Ukraine. The latest strike comes amid continuing Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure during the ongoing war.