Ukrainian drone strikes hit Rosneft refinery and Ozon warehouse in Russia, killing at least 10

Overnight strikes across Russian regions

Ukrainian forces conducted a coordinated series of long-range drone strikes across several Russian regions and occupied territories overnight on 21 and 22 August 2026. The Russian defence ministry stated that air defence units intercepted 457 Ukrainian drones during the night. Attacks reached deep into Russian territory, targeting sites in the Samara, Krasnodar, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions, as well as annexed Crimea and Russian-occupied Luhansk. Ukrainian officials framed the operation as part of a broader campaign against logistical and economic infrastructure supporting Russian military operations.

Industrial strikes in Samara region

In Samara region, located approximately 900 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, Ukrainian drones hit two industrial facilities. The Ukrainian military targeted Rosneft's oil refinery in Novokuybyshevsk, an installation among the ten largest refineries in Russia that processes 8.8 million tonnes of crude oil annually into automobile fuel, diesel, aviation fuel, and lubricants. Social media footage from local residents showed columns of black smoke rising above the plant. Ukrainian military command explained the target.

The products of this enterprise are used to meet the needs of the Russian armed forces.

The strike ignited a fire at the refinery, prompting warnings of regional gasoline shortages. Ukrainian arms manufacturer Fire Point stated that its FP-1 drones simultaneously hit an Ozon logistics warehouse in Chapayevsk, where more than 500 workers evacuated within minutes and several people sustained injuries. Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed on Telegram that air defences intercepted dozens of drones over the region.

The Ozon logistics centre in Chapayevsk is one of the company's largest fulfillment centres in the Volga region. When fully operational, its total area reaches about 135,000 square metres, with a capacity exceeding 40 million products. The centre handles over 215,000 orders per day. Two different targets, one result: pressure on Russian fuel and logistics infrastructure.

Casualties and regional port damage

Regional authorities reported casualties across multiple administrative divisions following the strikes. By Saturday evening, regional official reports indicated that at least 10 people had died across Samara, Krasnodar, Belgorod, Crimea, and occupied Luhansk, up from an earlier tally of at least six. In Krasnodar Krai, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev stated that a strike on the port of Yeysk on the Sea of Azov killed two children, injured two adults, and caused a fire at a port facility. Acting Belgorod Governor Aleksandr Shuvayev reported two people killed and 13 injured, while Moscow-appointed Luhansk Governor Leonid Pasechnik confirmed two deaths, including a 16-year-old boy, alongside nine injuries. In Bryansk, local officials confirmed that four people suffered injuries.

Retaliatory threats and international reactions

The Samara strikes occurred alongside long-range operations elsewhere in Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces also struck a Russian oil refinery in Perm on the night of 21 to 22 August, an installation located approximately 1,500 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. The strike on Ozon was the first reported attack on the second-largest Russian e-commerce platform, following repeated drone strikes against market leader Wildberries since mid-July. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Saturday that the Ukrainian attacks opened a "Pandora's box" of Russian retaliatory actions. The barrage followed a Russian drone attack on Friday that struck a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 130. In reaction to the Kryvyi Rih strike, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Saturday that France would increase military assistance to Ukraine.