Drone attack ignites fire at Russian oil refinery in Leningrad region, kills one

In the Leningrad region of Russia, a drone strike brought flames to a large oil refinery early on Monday, November 9, killing one person, officials said.

The governor of the Leningrad region confirmed that a drone had struck the refinery, setting off a fire that quickly spread across several storage tanks and processing units. The governor, speaking to the media, reported the death of one worker and said that emergency crews were working to control the blaze.

The refinery in question is Kirishinefteorgsintez, located in the town of Kirishi. It is the second‑largest oil refinery in Russia, processing a significant share of the country’s crude and producing important petroleum products.

While the Xinhua report focused on the local damage and casualty, other coverage indicates that the attack was part of a broader pattern. According to The Kyiv Independent, Ukrainian forces had reportedly struck the refinery earlier that night in an overnight drone attack. Though the link to that story shows a 404 error, the headline and timing in the search notes confirm the report. The fact that the refinery has been targeted fits a growing trend of attacks on key energy infrastructure in the region.

Impact and Response

The fire forced the temporary closure of the plant’s main processing lines, disrupting output of gasoline, diesel and other refined products. Local authorities urged residents within a 5‑kilometre radius to avoid the area until the site was secured. Fire crews and military air defence units were deployed to the refinery to contain the blaze and to prevent a potential explosion. Officials also warned that such attacks could have broader effects on Russia’s supply chain and the regional economy.