Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on August 6, 2026, that Ukrainian forces conducted overnight long-range drone strikes on two Russian oil refineries located deep inside Russian territory. The attacks targeted the Bashneft-Novoil refinery in Bashkortostan, approximately 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the Ukrainian border, and the Slavneft-Yanos refinery in the Yaroslavl region, roughly 700 kilometers (435 miles) from the border.
In the same operation, Zelensky stated that Ukrainian forces also struck two Russian military patrol boats and vessels belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea. These vessels are reportedly used to evade Western sanctions on Russian oil exports. Zelensky did not provide further details about the damage or casualties resulting from these maritime strikes.
Russian military response
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting 605 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, including Yaroslavl. Mikhail Evraev, governor of the Yaroslavl region, described the attack as the largest drone assault the area had faced, with air defenses and electronic warfare systems destroying 93 drones. Evraev noted that falling debris from intercepted drones struck storage tanks at the Slavneft-Yanos refinery, triggering fires. Emergency services were deployed to extinguish the flames, and while no casualties were reported, four people sustained injuries.
Civilian impact and broader context
Both sides have intensified long-range strikes in recent months, leading to a rise in civilian casualties. Ukrainian forces have increased drone attacks on Russian territory, while Russia has escalated missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. In Ukraine, officials reported three civilian deaths in a Russian drone attack on a residential area and two more fatalities at a railway station.
Zelensky framed the strikes as part of Ukraine’s strategy to weaken Russia’s wartime economy and limit its oil revenues, which fund military operations. He emphasized that the attacks were intended to strengthen the prospects for diplomacy, stating, “Russia must choose peace.”
Energy infrastructure and economic effects
The Slavneft-Yanos refinery in Yaroslavl is one of Russia’s largest, processing approximately 15 million tons of crude oil annually and employing over 3,500 people. The facility produces fuel for vehicles, jet fuel, and various oils. Prior to this attack, the refinery had been targeted multiple times during the conflict, contributing to domestic fuel shortages and economic strain.
Ukraine’s repeated strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have exacerbated fuel supply issues across Russia, with reports of long queues at gas stations and government-imposed restrictions on petrol sales. Analysts suggest these disruptions are intended to pressure Moscow by undermining its economic capacity to sustain the war effort.
Verification and visual evidence
BBC Verify reviewed multiple social media videos and images showing large plumes of black smoke rising from the Bashneft-Novoil refinery in Bashkortostan. At least four separate fires were visible at the site, according to verified footage. Authorities in Bashkortostan have not publicly commented on the reported attack.
In Yaroslavl, the scale of the drone interception and subsequent damage to the refinery’s storage tanks was confirmed by regional officials and emergency services. The incident marks a significant escalation in the use of long-range drones by Ukraine, extending the reach of its military operations far beyond the front lines.