Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ published footage on 3 October showing Liutyi drones striking the Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery. Russian officials confirmed emergency responses and temporary flight restrictions in the region. The refinery lies about 1,300 km from the Russian-occupied portion of Ukraine’s eastern border and over 1,400 km from the Ukrainian-held border and the frontline.
Ukrainian Liutyi drones strike refinery deep in Orenburg Oblast
At 11:25 on 3 October, Exilenova+ reported that Ukrainian drones struck the Orsknefteorgsintez refinery in Orenburg Oblast.
The refinery’s processing capacity is at 6.6 million tons of oil per year and it produces gasoline, diesel, aviation kerosene, fuel oil, bitumen, and lubricants. The facility underwent large-scale modernization over the past decade, including a hydrocracking complex introduced in 2018 and a delayed coking unit built between 2020 and 2021.
Exilenova+ reported that evacuation began at the facility shortly after the strike and that the consequences were still being assessed.
The channel posted several short videos over the next hour, documenting the flight of Liutyi drones, strikes, and impact moments from different angles.
Russian officials confirm refinery was targeted
Citing Orsk Mayor Artyom Vorobyev, Russian news Telegram channel Astra reported that Russian soldiers were working at the site after the drone strike. The mayor had earlier warned of a possible drone attack.
Later, Astra quoted the Governor of Orenburg Oblast, Evgeny Solntsev, who wrote that there had been “an attempted attack on an industrial facility.” Solntsev claimed that no civilians were injured and that technological processes at the refinery were “not disrupted.” He added that emergency services remained at the site.
At 13:13, Astra reported that the Kovyor (“Carpet”) plan had been lifted in Orenburg Oblast. This protocol involves grounding and diverting flights during air threats. Astra cited both the governor and the official Telegram channel of Rosaviatsiya, the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency.
Russian propagandist blames Kazakhstan and calls for invasion
Following the refinery strike, Russian TV propagandist Sergei Mardan reacted in a Telegram post.
Instead of blaming Russia’s leaky air defense, which allowed drones to fly 1,400 km across its territory, he claimed it was “completely obvious” the drones were launched from Kazakhstan, citing the distance between Orsk and Ukraine.
He then questioned whether it was time to “conduct a raid” on the territory of "'independent' Kazakhstan" to eliminate what he called “threats to Russia’s national security.” Mardan concluded that “the best option would be to start a sweep in Astana right away.”
Update: Ukraine's SBU reportedly behind Orsk refinery strike
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) was behind the 3 October drone strike on the Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery in Orenburg Oblast, according to a source in the agency cited by Ukrainian outlet Liga.
The source said that long-range drones operated by the SBU's Alpha special operations unit hit the refinery in the city of Orsk from a distance of 1,400 km.
Update: OSINT channel says Liutyi drones hit refinery’s key fuel unit
Cyberboroshno OSINT Telegram channel reported that analysis of the available photos and videos from the Orsknefteorgsintez strike shows the strike hit the LC-24-2000 gasoline and diesel hydrotreating unit, which was upgraded in 2014 for deeper fuel cleaning and to meet new environmental standards.
This unit is the final stage of fuel production, and Cyberboroshno noted the hit could further worsen gasoline and diesel supply. Coordinates posted were 51.2496162, 58.5191251.
Record range for Liutyi
Militarnyi noted that the Liutyi drone was originally designed with a one-way combat range of 1,000km. Extending that range to 1,400km for the strike on the Orsk refinery may have required using lighter structural and propulsion components and/or reducing the size of its warhead.
