Russian oil hub in Samara hit by repeated drone attacks - video

Eyewitness videos evidenced the flashes over the local refinery in Novokuybyshevsk, Samara Oblast.

The footage showed at least three distinct flashes: one in the air at an altitude of about 1.5 kilometers, another above the horizon but still in the air (likely more air-defense activity south of the Novokuybyshevsk refinery), and a final bright glow at the very end — directly on the refinery’s grounds.

Local authorities have not commented on the attack.

Novokuybyshevsk Oil Refinery is a Russian refinery in Samara Oblast and is part of the Rosneft group.

The plant had already been attacked by drones on Nov. 16 and Oct. 19.

On Oct. 20, Reuters reported that the Novokuybyshevsk refinery, owned by Rosneft, had halted primary crude processing after a drone strike. According to the outlet’s sources, the refinery shut down its CDU-11 crude distillation unit with a capacity of 18,900 tons per day, or about 138,540 barrels per day.

Industry sources said that in 2024 the Novokuybyshevsk refinery processed 5.74 million tons of crude oil and produced 1.10 million tons of gasoline, 1.64 million tons of diesel, and 1.27 million tons of fuel oil.

On the night of Oct. 19, explosions were heard in Novokuybyshevsk, Samara Oblast. Monitoring channels reported a large fire at the refinery.

Later that day, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck the Novokuybyshevsk refinery. The facility had already been attacked a month earlier, on Sept. 20.