Drones struck the Ilsky oil refinery in southern Russia's Krasnodar Krai and triggered sirens and a blackout near Russia's Baltic Fleet base in Vyborg overnight on 16–17 February. Russia's defense ministry claimed it intercepted 151 Ukrainian drones across multiple areas.
Ilsky refinery catches fire after drone strike
Last night, Ukrainian drones attacked the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai. Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ published videos of the fire, recorded by local residents.
The regional operational headquarters confirmed the strike and stated a petroleum storage tank caught fire on the refinery grounds.
"The total fire area is about 700 m². 72 personnel and 21 vehicles are involved in extinguishing the blaze [...]. A firefighting train is also operating at the scene," the statement read.
The released footage shows tall flames and thick black smoke rising above the refinery's territory.
The refinery also serves as a key link in fuel supply to occupied Ukrainian territories and military units in Russia's Southern Military District. Ukraine's defense forces have repeatedly struck Ilsky, including on 1 January 2026. Attacks on the facility were also recorded in February 2025, July, and September.
Russia's defense ministry claimed on the morning of 17 February that it intercepted 151 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry's breakdown: 50 over the Black Sea, 38 over occupied Crimea, 29 over the Sea of Azov, 18 over Krasnodar Krai, 11 over Kaluga Oblast, 4 over Bryansk Oblast, and 1 over Kursk Oblast.
Blackout hits Vyborg near Baltic Fleet infrastructure
On the evening of 16 February, sirens sounded and a partial blackout struck Vyborg, north of Saint-Petersburg and only 30 km away from Finland, where one of Russia's Baltic Fleet infrastructure hubs is located, RBC-Ukraine reported, citing Russian media. Local social media users wrote that power was being restored. A repair crew was switching to an alternative power line.
