[UPDATED: May 15, 1:01 pm
, Kyiv time. Updated with more reports from the independent Russian outlet Astra]
A large-scale drone attack overnight on Friday ignited a major fire at the Ryazan Oil Refinery, one of Russia’s largest fuel production facilities, according to local residents and Russian monitoring channels. Multiple loud explosions were reported after several drones were seen flying over the city. Videos shared online appeared to show flames and thick smoke rising from the refinery.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Astra, an independent Russian outlet, said its analysts determined the refinery was damaged in the attack. “An ASTRA OSINT analyst has determined that in addition to two high-rise buildings, an oil refinery in the city was damaged. Photos taken by witnesses were taken near the Olympic Town microdistrict, approximately 4 km from the Ryazan Oil Refinery,” the outlet wrote.
Astra said the attack also damaged two high-rise buildings in Ryazan. A later Astra update, citing local accounts, reported “black rain” falling from the skies after the refinery was hit. The strike came after another reported drone attack on Russian energy infrastructure. On Thursday, Gazprom’s Astrakhan gas plant in Russia suspended motor fuel production after a fire caused by a drone attack. Operations at a key gas condensate processing unit capable of producing up to 3 million tons annually were reportedly halted. The Ryazan refinery and Gazprom’s Astrakhan gas plant are both considered important to Moscow’s war machine.
