Ukraine Drones Hit 17-Million-Tonne Kstovo Refinery and Yaroslavl Oil Station
Updated
Updated · Ukrainska Pravda · May 19
Ukraine Drones Hit 17-Million-Tonne Kstovo Refinery and Yaroslavl Oil Station
5 articles · Updated · Ukrainska Pravda · May 19
Ukraine’s military said it struck the Kstovo oil refinery on May 18 and the Yaroslavl-3 oil pumping station on May 19 in two drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
The General Staff described Kstovo as one of Russia’s largest refineries, processing about 17 million tonnes of oil a year and supplying petrol, diesel and aviation fuel used by Russian forces.
A fire was recorded at Kstovo after the strike, while the extent of damage at both sites was still being verified.
In Yaroslavl, explosions were reported on the morning of May 19; regional authorities said a UAV hit an industrial facility and a motorway toward Moscow was temporarily closed.
The attacks fit Ukraine’s broader campaign of medium-range drone strikes on Russian logistics and energy assets aimed at slowing Moscow’s military operations.
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Ukraine’s 2026 Drone Offensive: Mass Production, AI, and the New Face of Asymmetric Warfare
Overview
In 2026, Ukraine dramatically escalated its drone campaign, launching intensified aerial assaults deep into Russian territory. This new phase was marked by a major raid on Moscow on May 17, where drones and cruise missiles struck key sites like the Moscow Refinery and the Solnechnogorsk oil facility, causing significant fires and damage to critical energy infrastructure. These attacks resulted in casualties and forced Russian authorities to ground flights in the capital. Ukraine’s evolving strategy and increased drone capabilities have not only disrupted Russian operations but also signaled a shift in modern warfare’s scale and impact.