As the New Year began, drone attacks struck several Russian regions, setting oil depots and fuel facilities on fire in Kaluga Oblast and Krasnodar Krai. Residents reported explosions, flames, and smoke lighting up the night sky, marking another attack on energy infrastructure linked to the war in Ukraine.
Oil Depots hit as fires light up the night sky
One of the most serious incidents occurred in Lyudinovo, Kaluga Oblast, where videos showed a tall column of fire and smoke rising from an oil depot. Residents reported hearing drone engines and explosions before the blaze. While authorities gave no details, the fire suggested a major strike on the depot.
Similar attacks were reported in Krasnodar Krai, where the Ilsky oil refinery and nearby oil depots were hit. This refinery has faced multiple attacks before, causing temporary shutdowns. Videos showed flames and smoke, and residents described a tense night with loud noises and air defence activity. Emergency services worked to control fires and secure the affected oil depots.
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Oil refineries and depots are large, flammable sites, and even limited damage can disrupt operations, fuel supply, and transport. Fires at these facilities can spread quickly and take hours to control.
Oil Depots and air defence claims amid limited official details
Russia’s capital region also saw action overnight. Moscow authorities said their air defence systems actively responded to incoming drones throughout the night. As in many previous cases, officials claimed they intercepted or destroyed the drones before they could reach targets, including depots and industrial sites.
However, authorities did not provide exact details. They did not disclose how many drones reached their targets, where debris fell, or whether the drones caused damage to depots or fuel facilities. In past incidents, officials usually issued only brief statements, while independent reports and online footage later showed fires near depots and storage sites.
On the morning of 1 January, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that its air defence systems destroyed 168 drones overnight across different regions. This number showed the scale of the attacks, though it did not indicate how many refineries, depots, or fuel sites suffered damage.
Because officials tightly controlled information, local residents, online videos, and monitoring groups provided most of what is known about the night’s events. These sources showed repeated fires at depots, industrial facilities, and fuel storage zones across wide areas.
The lack of detailed official comment left many questions unanswered for residents, especially those living near depots and fuel hubs, who experienced the explosions and fires firsthand.
Fuel infrastructure under repeated pressure
Oil refineries in Russia have been repeatedly targeted in recent months, as they supply fuel for transport, industry, and military logistics. They also generate income through storage and distribution of oil products, making them strategic targets in the ongoing conflict.
The Ilsky oil refinery in southern Russia is a major processing center linked to nearby oil depots. It handles millions of tonnes of oil yearly and produces diesel, petrol, and fuel oil. Its location near Black Sea ports makes fuel from these oil depots essential for transport and military operations.
The Lyudinovo oil depot is part of a wider fuel distribution network and acts as a key logistics hub. These depots store large amounts of fuel and supply industrial and transport sectors. Past attacks on fuel depots and refineries have caused temporary shutdowns, repairs, and fuel disruptions. Even after resuming operations, safety checks and damage assessments take time.
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Ukrainian defence forces said they target energy and fuel infrastructure, including oil depots, that support military operations. They strike these sites to disrupt supply chains and reduce available resources.
Drone attacks, fires, and emergency responses repeatedly hit depots and refineries across Russia. At the start of 2026, burning depots and rising smoke replaced festive lights, and explosions replaced quiet streets, filling many residents with fear.