Ukraine Strikes Three Russian Oil Refineries Including Novokuybyshevsk Jet Fuel Plant, Ending Six-Week Pause

Ukraine launched drone strikes against three Russian oil refineries and one chemical plant overnight on October 30, ending a pause in such attacks that had held since October 15. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed the strikes and said damage was minor at one of the plants targeted.

The most prominent target was the Novokuybyshevsk refinery in Russia's Samara region, operated by Rosneft, which has a processing capacity of around 8.8 million tonnes of crude oil per year and produces jet fuel for Russian armed forces. Footage circulated online confirmed a fire at the facility following the strike.

The resumption of refinery attacks is significant on two fronts. It breaks a pause that coincided with tensions between Ukraine and the United States over military support and disruptions to Ukraine's access to Starlink satellite communications. The strikes signal Kyiv's willingness to press its long-range drone campaign against Russian energy infrastructure despite U.S. pressure to restrain such attacks.