In the early hours of November 27, 2025, the quiet of Novokuybyshevsk in Russia’s Samara region was shattered by the unmistakable sounds of explosions and flashes lighting up the night sky. According to Astra and corroborated by the OSINT community Exilenova+, the source of this chaos was a Ukrainian drone strike targeting the city’s sprawling oil refinery—one of the largest and most strategically vital facilities in the Rosneft group. This marked the third such attack on the refinery in as many months, underscoring a dramatic escalation in Ukraine’s campaign against Russian critical infrastructure.
Residents described a tense night. “We saw explosions, flashes in the sky, and visible detonations above the facility,” one local reported, as cited by Astra. Video footage from the scene, widely shared on social media, captured Russian air-defense systems firing above the city shortly after 2 a.m. local time. The regional authorities responded quickly, announcing an air-raid alert just after midnight. The sense of urgency rippled outwards, with Samara Airport temporarily suspending all arrivals and departures as a precautionary measure.
This was no isolated incident. The Novokuybyshevsk refinery, which processed 5.74 million tons of crude oil in 2024 and boasts an annual capacity of 8.8 million tons (roughly 176,000 barrels per day), had previously been struck on October 19 and November 16 of this year. Each attack has chipped away at the facility’s operations. According to preliminary reports cited by Caliber.Az and local Telegram channels, the refinery again ceased operations following the latest strike, though the full extent of the damage remains unconfirmed as local officials have yet to issue a public statement.
The refinery’s importance extends beyond its sheer size. As Russia’s only producer of synthetic ethanol and para-tert-butylphenol (PTBF), the plant plays a crucial role in the country’s petrochemical sector. Its output in 2024 included 1.10 million tons of gasoline, 1.64 million tons of diesel, and 1.27 million tons of fuel oil. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has repeatedly emphasized that the Novokuybyshevsk facility is directly involved in “meeting the needs of the Russian army,” making it a prime target in Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to degrade the combat potential of Russian forces.
This latest attack fits into a broader pattern. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Ukrainian forces have increasingly targeted military and logistical infrastructure deep within Russian territory. Oil refineries have been a particular focus throughout 2024 and 2025, with the aim of disrupting fuel supplies vital to Russia’s war effort. Earlier this year, the Ryazan oil refinery—another Rosneft giant located about 470 kilometers from the Ukrainian border—was also hit by drones. That facility processed about 13.1 million tons of crude in 2024, accounting for roughly 5% of Russia’s total refining output.
While the Ukrainian side has not officially commented on the specifics of the Novokuybyshevsk strike, the broader strategy is clear. Official data from the Ukrainian General Staff confirm ongoing efforts “to reduce the combat potential of the occupying forces and to pressure the Russian Federation from Ukrainian defense structures.” The use of drones—relatively inexpensive, hard to intercept, and capable of striking far behind enemy lines—has become a hallmark of Ukraine’s evolving tactics.
According to Caliber.Az, the timing of the attack is especially notable, coming amid a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at ending the conflict. U.S.-brokered talks in Geneva and Abu Dhabi have sought to advance a peace plan initially leaked on November 20, 2025. The plan, championed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, originally consisted of a 28-point framework that called for a rapid resolution to the war through territorial freezes, Ukrainian neutrality, and phased sanctions relief. The draft, developed with input from Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, drew sharp criticism for favoring Moscow—particularly for its de facto recognition of annexed territories like Crimea and the Donbas.
In response to vocal objections from Kyiv and European capitals, the plan was revised in late November, pared down to 19 points and placing greater emphasis on multilateral guarantees. The diplomatic wrangling continues, but as the drone strikes on Novokuybyshevsk demonstrate, events on the ground are moving just as quickly as those around the negotiating table.
Eyewitnesses in Novokuybyshevsk were quick to share their experiences. “Flashes after the attack appeared on the night of November 27,” one resident recounted, as reported by the Astra Telegram channel. The lack of official comment from both Russian local authorities and Ukrainian security forces has only fueled speculation about the scale of the damage and the future of the refinery’s operations.
The refinery’s shutdown is more than a local inconvenience—it represents a significant disruption to Russia’s military logistics. The Novokuybyshevsk plant, as part of the Rosneft group, is tightly integrated into the supply chain that supports Russian troops. Its repeated targeting is a clear signal of Ukraine’s intent to hit where it hurts most: the infrastructure that keeps the Russian war machine running.
Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has remained steadfast in his calls for continued international support and tougher sanctions against Russia. Speaking in Athens on November 16, just days before the latest refinery strike, Zelensky highlighted the importance of European unity in confronting Russian aggression. “European countries are working out the next steps of sanctions,” he said, as reported by Ukrinform and The New York Times. The message from Kyiv is unmistakable: diplomatic efforts must be matched by concrete actions that undermine Russia’s capacity to wage war.
For residents of Novokuybyshevsk, the events of November 27 will not soon be forgotten. The sight of air-defense systems firing over the city, the eerie glow of explosions above the refinery, and the disruption of daily life all serve as stark reminders that the conflict in Ukraine is far from distant. As Ukraine’s drone campaign intensifies and diplomatic negotiations continue, the fate of critical infrastructure like the Novokuybyshevsk refinery will remain a key battleground—both in the air and at the negotiating table.
With each drone strike, Ukraine is sending a message: the cost of occupation will be felt not only on the front lines, but deep within Russia’s own borders. As winter sets in and the war grinds on, the world will be watching to see how both sides adapt—and whether peace can be achieved before even more critical infrastructure goes up in smoke.