According to regional governor Alexander Drozdenko, the first warning about UAVs in the region's airspace appeared around 2:40 a.m. Later, Drozdenko confirmed that air defense systems had been activated and that a fire had broken out in the industrial zone of the city of Kirishi. Firefighting crews were dispatched to the scene.
Ukraine's General Staff confirmed that the Defense Forces had carried out the strike, noting that the results were still being assessed. "The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue a systematic campaign to destroy russian military facilities and weaken its military and economic potential — particularly in logistics, fuel, ammunition, and weapons," the statement said.
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The Kirishinefteorgsintez refinery is one of russia's largest, with an annual processing capacity of about 18–20 million tonnes of crude. It produces gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel — all critical to sustaining russia's war machine.
Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) later revealed that the strike was conducted jointly with the insurgent movement Chornaya Iskra (Black Spark). According to the SOF Command, the operation targeted the LAB-LABS and ELOU-AVT-6 refining units at the plant.
"The successful outcome was achieved through precise coordination and planning between Ukraine's Special Operations Forces and representatives of the Chornaya Iskra movement," the SOF said.
This was the third successful strike on the Kirishinefteorgsintez facility in 2025.
Earlier, Defense Express reported that Ukrainian Special Operations Forces also struck the russian Grad small missile ship on Lake Onega in the Republic of Karelia.
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