Drones hit Saratov oil refinery, causing massive fire

Drones attacked the Saratov oil refinery in Russia overnight on November 7, causing a massive fire with multiple ignition points and smoke visible for kilometers. The plant supplies fuel to the Russian occupation army, and local authorities reported damage and preliminary casualties. The Saratov refinery, founded in 1934 and part of Rosneft since 2013, processes about 7 million tons of oil annually, producing gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products. It has been targeted at least 16 times as of September 2026, with a confirmed Ukrainian General Staff strike on March 21, 2026. Six other Russian refineries have similar or higher capacity, ranging from 7 to 8.9 million tons per year, including facilities in Samara, Ufa, Komsomolsk, Novokuibyshevsk, and Syzran. The diesel fuel produced is used for military vehicles and armored equipment.