A Crimson Sky Ablaze: Drones Struck The Ilsky And Afipsky Refineries

• 26.09.2026, 8:19

Drones attacked the Krasnodar Krai region of Russia.

On the night of September 26, the Krasnodar Krai region of the Russian Federation was attacked by drones. After midnight, residents of the region heard loud noises in the sky, and it was later reported that the Ilsk Oil Refinery had been hit.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine citing OSINT sources.

“Residents of Krasnodar heard a loud bang in the sky above the city,” wrote a Russian Telegram group for the Krasnodar Krai.

Reports began to surface after midnight. Local authorities had previously warned of the danger posed by drones. Loud booms were heard in the sky several times.

Around 2 a.m., the drone threat was still ongoing. At Krasnodar Airport, the “Kover” plan was activated, providing for the emergency landing of civilian aircraft.

In footage of the Ilsky Oil Refinery taken from a distance after it was struck, a crimson glow and a fierce fire are visible.

The governor of the Krasnodar Region, Veniamin Kondratyev, reported fires at two facilities following a drone attack. According to analysts, the Afipsky Oil Refinery in the Krasnodar Region was also attacked.

The Ilsky Oil Refinery—a victim of drones

As is well known, this is far from the first time the Ilsky Refinery has been attacked by drones. For example, last month this refinery was also struck by a UAV; in addition, Ukrainian drones struck the Syzran Refinery, and fires broke out immediately at both facilities.

The Ilsk Oil Refinery was also attacked in July—this occurred on the night of the 10th. In addition, a number of other strikes were recorded over an extended period.

What Is Known About the Ilysk Refinery

It is one of the key oil refineries in the Southern Federal District. The refinery’s production capacity is 6.6 million metric tons of crude oil per year.

The refinery processes hydrocarbon feedstock and produces gasoline, straight-run gasoline, fuel oil, and diesel fuel.