Ukraine takes aim at Russia’s fuel lifeline, hits major refinery in Yaroslavl

Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck the Yaroslavl oil refinery deep inside Russia, triggering a fire at the facility, according to a statement by Ukraine’s General Staff on 26 April.

Ukraine has increasingly targeted oil refineries, fuel depots, and export logistics in an effort to disrupt Russia’s ability to supply its forces, degrade fuel availability for military operations, and raise the economic cost of the war.

Yaroslavl refinery is a key fuel supply hub

The General Staff said the “Yaroslavl refinery” is a strategically important facility and one of the key pillars of Russia’s oil refining sector, with an annual processing capacity of about 15 million tons. Its output – including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel – plays a critical role in sustaining Russian military logistics.

The extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Open-source intelligence accounts reported signs of the strikes earlier in the night. Ukrainian OSINT group Exilenova+ said drones struck the Yaroslavl refinery, also known as YANOS (Yaroslavnefteorgsintez), with a fire recorded on site shortly after the attack.

Ukraine hits rail and air defense targets in wider strike wave

The strike was part of a broader wave of attacks carried out on 25 April and overnight into 26 April, targeting military and logistics assets both in Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories.

Beyond the refinery strike, the General Staff reported hits on two Russian military train echelons near the settlements of Menchuhove and Kelerivka in occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast.

The military added that follow-up assessments confirmed earlier strikes carried out on 24 April. These included hits on a Kasta-2E1 radar station in occupied Melitopol and a Pantsir-S1 air defense system in Mariupol.

Damage assessments and reported Russian losses from all strikes remain under review, the General Staff said.