Ukrainian drones struck a Russian refinery in Krasnodar Krai, setting off a fire.
Why it matters: The strike adds pressure to Russia's fuel supply network and shows Ukraine can reach deep into Russian territory. It also raises the risk of further disruption to Russian logistics tied to oil processing and transport.
- AP reported the strike on Aug. 13, 2026, in Russia's Krasnodar Krai region.
- The site was tied by AP to the Novorossiysk area, roughly 800 miles from the Ukrainian border.
- AP said it was the fourth strike in three days in Ukraine's campaign against Russian oil infrastructure.
- AP's background reporting says Ukraine has hit refineries and oil terminals across 2026, including in Krasnodar, Saratov, Tatarstan, Perm and Omsk.
Ukrainian drones struck a refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai on Aug. 13, setting off a fire and extending Kyiv's long-range campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. AP tied the blaze to a refinery in the Novorossiysk area, a Black Sea port and energy hub, and said the site was about 800 miles from the Ukrainian border. AP's report placed the attack deep inside Russia.
The strike matters because refineries are a key choke point in Russia's fuel system. Damage or shutdowns can ripple through gasoline and diesel supply, complicate transport and logistics, and force rerouting or repairs that take units offline. AP said the attack was the fourth in three days in Ukraine's campaign against Russian oil infrastructure.
AP's earlier coverage shows the pattern has stretched across multiple regions in 2026, including Krasnodar, Saratov, Tatarstan, Perm and Omsk. Earlier AP coverage documented that broader series of strikes, which have increasingly focused on oil processing and export infrastructure.
By the numbers
- 800 miles - AP's estimate of the distance from the Ukrainian border to the site.
- 4 strikes in 3 days - AP's count of reported attacks in Ukraine's campaign against Russian oil infrastructure.
Yes, but: AP did not confirm the exact refinery name in the material provided, and the dossier does not include a damage assessment beyond the fire.