Ukraine confirms strikes on Volgograd oil refinery, Crimean fuel depots, and Donetsk Shahed drone base (VIDEO)

Ukrainian forces launched a coordinated overnight assault, striking deep into both Russian territory and occupied areas. The attacks ignited fires and explosions at critical fuel and drone infrastructure sites in Russia's Volgograd, and in the occupied Crimea and Donetsk, aiming to degrade the enemy’s logistics and offensive capabilities, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

General Staff confirms coordinated strikes across Russian and occupied areas

The General Staff reported on 6 November 2025 that Ukraine’s Defense Forces hit several high-value targets linked to Russia’s war effort. The confirmed targets included a major oil refinery in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast, three fuel depots in Russian-occupied Crimea, and a base used for storing, assembling, and launching Shahed-type drones in occupied Donetsk.

The operation involved missile troops, artillery units, the 414th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces, and Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The military described the attack as part of a larger campaign aimed at destroying elements of the aggressor’s military-industrial infrastructure.

Strike on Volgograd refinery sparks fire

Ukrainian forces struck the Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka oil refinery in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast. The facility processes 15.7 million tons of oil per year—around 5.6% of Russia’s total refining volume. The General Staff confirmed explosions and a fire at the site.

Footage published by Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ showed explosions and fire in the refinery area. The channel also released videos capturing what appeared to be a Pantsir air defense system's missile launch and hit on a residential building.

The governor claimed the area came under a “terrorist drone attack,” alleging that a 48-year-old civilian man was killed by shrapnel when debris hit a 24-story apartment building.

Fuel depots burn in Hvardiiske and Simferopol

Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces struck three oil infrastructure sites in occupied Crimea. The General Staff confirmed a successful hit on a reservoir and several rail tankers at a fuel loading rack in the village of Hvardiiske. Two additional targets in Simferopol were also hit—both described as reservoir parks. Fires broke out at each location, according to the report.

According to Telegram channel Krymsky Veter, the first drones were noticed around 1:00 a.m. Russian air defense opened fire over Hvardiiske at 2:00 a.m., and four separate impacts were reported by 3:00 a.m. The channel said it was unclear whether the target was the airfield or the fuel depot.

In Simferopol, Krymsky Veter’s sources reported a fire near the settlement of Bitumne at around 2:30 a.m. Witnesses suspected it was the Krymneftesbyt oil depot. Photos and videos shared on the channel showed flames rising from the site. Another fire broke out in the thermal power plant's area. A loud explosion at 6:01 a.m. was reportedly heard from Simferopol to the southern coast of Crimea.

Shahed drone base in Donetsk struck with secondary detonation

Ukraine also confirmed hitting a Shahed drone facility in occupied Donetsk, located within the territory of the former Donetsk airport. The base was used to store, assemble, and launch Iranian-designed drones employed in daily Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, according to the report. Russia uses the Iranian-designed Shaheds in its daily attacks against Ukrainian cities.

The strike was carried out by Ukrainian missile and artillery units, drone forces, and special operations personnel. The General Staff reported confirmed explosions and a powerful secondary detonation—likely from stored munitions—at the target site.

Telegram channel Exilenova+ posted videos of the explosion, including footage of a shockwave and fireball. One caption read, “Clarification: ammo depot near Donetsk destroyed.” Another post described it simply as a “missile strike” on Donetsk.

Update

Telegram channel Dosye Shpiona reported that late on 5 November, a strike hit Geran-2 launch positions and storage sites at the Donetsk airport base. The attack reportedly involved both cruise missiles and loitering munitions.

Geran-2 is Russia's designation for the Iranian Shahed-126 drone.

According to the channel, the strike destroyed a munitions depot, a fuel storage facility, and a UAV pre-launch preparation point, while also damaging power and communication infrastructure.

Dosye Shpiona claimed that up to 1,000 Geran-2 drones and more than 1,500 warheads were present at the airfield at the time.