Full Breakdown
Ukraine Conducts Deep-Strike Campaign on Russian Refineries and Defense Facilities on September 25, 2026
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Major Targets and Immediate Effects
On the night of September 25, 2026, Ukraine’s armed forces struck a cluster of Russian sites deep inside the federation. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed hits on two oil refineries—Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez in Perm Krai (approximately 1,450 km from the Ukrainian border) and the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Products Plant in Rostov Oblast (about 200 km from Ukrainian-controlled territory). Fires were reported at both facilities.
The strike also damaged the Iskra plant in Ulyanovsk (roughly 800 km from the border), a subsidiary of the Almaz-Antey aerospace and defense concern that produces semiconductor components, electronic equipment, and parts for the Kh-59M2/M2A guided missiles and the 72V6 Pantsir-S air-defence system.
Additional targets included the 64L6 Gamma-S1 and 39N6 Kasta-2E2 radar stations near Novoshakhtinsk, the Efremov Synthetic Rubber Plant in Tula Oblast, and Voronezhsintezkauchuk in Voronezh Oblast. Both latter facilities manufacture solid-rocket propellant used in Iskander tactical ballistic missiles.
Background and Strategic Context
Ukraine has repeatedly employed long-range drones and missiles to hit Russian military-industrial and energy infrastructure far beyond the front lines. The campaign aims to curtail the Russian armed forces’ access to fuel, lubricants, and key weapon components, thereby weakening Moscow’s capacity to sustain its war effort.
Facility Profiles and Quantitative Data
- Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez – processes roughly 13 million metric tons of crude oil per year; supplies fuel and lubricants to Russian forces.
- Novoshakhtinsk Oil Products Plant – has an annual processing capacity of about 7.5 million metric tons; a major supplier of petroleum products in southern Russia and a contributor to military fuel supplies.
- Iskra plant – produces semiconductor devices, electronic and communications equipment, and components for Kh-59M2/M2A missiles and the Pantsir-S system.
- Efremov Synthetic Rubber Plant and Voronezhsintezkauchuk – each produce solid-rocket propellant for Iskander missile systems.
Official Ukrainian Statements
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later reported that the two oil refineries were hit, the Iskra plant was damaged, and the radar stations in the Rostov region were disabled, stating that the strikes resulted in “two fewer radar stations” for the Russian occupiers.
Conflicting Reports and Verification Gaps
The Kyiv Independent noted that the details of the strikes could not be immediately verified, indicating a gap between Ukrainian claims and independent on-the-ground confirmation. Additionally, some information about the specific radar models and the exact extent of damage to the synthetic-rubber and propellant plants derives from Ukrainian statements and OSINT analyses rather than independent field reports.
Impact and Implications
If the reported fires and damage curtail output, the affected refineries could temporarily reduce the flow of fuel and lubricants to Russian military units operating in the south and west. Disruption of the Iskra plant’s component production may impede the manufacture or maintenance of Kh-59M2/M2A missiles and Pantsir-S air-defence systems. Likewise, impairments at the rubber and propellant facilities could affect the supply chain for Iskander ballistic missiles.
Collectively, the coordinated strikes illustrate Ukraine’s expanding long-range strike capability and its strategic focus on undermining the logistical and industrial foundations of Russia’s war machine.
