Ukraine Resumes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries Amid U.S. Envoy Visit

On the night of September 6 2026, Ukraine’s General Staff said long-range drones struck three oil-processing facilities deep inside Russia: the Lukoil refinery in Perm, the Tatneft-run Taneco complex in Tatarstan, and the Rosneft Ryazan refinery. Fires were confirmed at Ryazan; Russian authorities reported drones were intercepted over Perm and Tatarstan. A launch-and-storage site for Russian drones in Kursk Oblast and an unspecified Black Sea target were also hit. The operation followed a brief, mutually agreed pause on attacks against Kyiv and Moscow while U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Moscow and Kyiv.

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Ukraine has run deep-strike operations since early 2022 to erode Kremlin revenue by targeting refineries, petrochemical plants and logistics hubs beyond the front line. In August 2026, Russia increased its use of fast, jet-powered drones against Kyiv, prompting a surge in air-raid alerts. The September 6 strikes marked the first major resumption of refinery attacks after a four-day pause that both Kyiv and Moscow pledged to honor for the capitals only.

Bloomberg

• Perm’s Lukoil refinery processes ? 260,000 bbl/day.

Kyiv Independent

• Tatarstan’s Tatneft Taneco complex handles ? 300,000 bbl/day; the independent TAIF-NK refinery adds ? 145,000 bbl/day.

Bloomberg

• Ryazan’s Rosneft refinery has a design capacity of ? 340,000 bbl/day (about 17 million t/yr).

Ryazan oil refinery hit by drones again

• Russia’s diesel-export ban, imposed after earlier Ukrainian attacks, remains in force through September 2026.

Bloomberg

• Russian Defense Ministry reported downing 258 Ukrainian drones overnight; Ukrainian Air Defence said Russia launched 108 drones in the same period.

Putin orders 72-hour pause in Kyiv strikes as US envoys visit

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the strikes via Telegram, emphasizing the use of “long-range forces” against the three facilities. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent linked the Ukrainian drone campaign to recent spikes in global diesel prices. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia will lift the diesel-export ban once domestic inventories are replenished. Lukoil’s principal shareholder, billionaire Vagit Alekperov, estimated that repairing a refinery after a drone attack typically requires 2–3 weeks.

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Russian officials claimed 306 Ukrainian drones were downed across Perm Krai, Rostov Oblast and Kursk Oblast, but did not mention Ryazan in their tally. Ukrainian sources reported fires and damage at Ryazan, while regional governor Pavel Malkov noted only debris damage to a residential building and no casualties. Independent verification of damage at the Tatarstan sites and the Black Sea target remains unavailable.

Kyiv Independent

• “Our long-range forces have been used against oil refineries in the Perm region and Tatarstan,” — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Bloomberg

• “Substantive progress was made, including movement on scheduling additional trilateral talks,” — Steve Witkoff

New York Post

• “We will certainly need to adapt,” — Pavlo Palisa, deputy chief of President Zelenskyy’s office

Bloomberg