Ukrainian drone strikes ignited major fires at a Russian gas export terminal in the Leningrad region and an oil refinery in Samara on August 24, 2025, marking one of the most significant attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months.
The incident, confirmed by both Ukrainian and Russian sources, signals an escalation in the long-running campaign to disrupt Russia’s oil and gas operations, which are critical to funding its war effort.
According to Ukrainian military intelligence and the General Staff, the Syzran oil refinery in Samara — which produces gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and supplies petroleum products to Russian troops — was directly targeted.
The refinery is responsible for refining up to 8.5 million tons of crude oil annually, amounting to roughly 3 per cent of Russia’s total oil refining volume.
Explosions rocked the facility, with local media reporting at least twenty blasts before a large-scale fire broke out.
Simultaneously, Ukrainian sources confirmed an attack on the Novatek liquefied natural gas terminal in Ust-Luga, located on the Gulf of Finland near Estonia and only 110 kilometres from St. Petersburg.
Russian officials claimed ten drones were shot down over Ust-Luga, but footage and local reports reveal heavy fire damage to the terminal.
The SBU, Ukraine’s Security Service, stated that targeting the terminal hinders Russia’s shadow fleet operations and limits the flow of foreign currency crucial to sustaining its military campaign.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 95 Ukrainian drones across 13 regions on August 24, but widespread disruption followed.
Airports in the region, including Pulkovo in St. Petersburg, temporarily suspended flights, causing delays for over sixty departures.
Authorities said there were no casualties.
Russia’s oil infrastructure has increasingly become the focus of Ukrainian operations, with Kyiv’s officials emphasising the goal of degrading Russia’s military capabilities and pushing the realities of war closer to those aiding the Kremlin.
These attacks also coincide with diplomatic efforts.
US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have publicly advocated for negotiations to resolve the conflict, but repeated attempts at peace have floundered amid entrenched positions.
The August 24 strikes, occurring just after Ukraine’s Independence Day, underscore the evolving nature of the conflict and highlight the vulnerability of Russian energy infrastructure closer to the European border.
