Ukraine’s military launched a long-range attack on Russia’s Samara Oblast overnight on August 22, striking one of the country’s largest oil refineries and, for the first time, a logistics warehouse belonging to e-commerce giant Ozon.
Photos and video posted to social media by local residents showed thick black smoke rising from the Novokuybyshevsk refinery after the reported strike. The facility processes approximately 8.8 million metric tons of oil per year, making it one of the ten largest refineries in Russia. It produces gasoline, diesel fuel, and fuel oil.
Ozon Warehouse Also Targeted
Later in the night, a large fire was also observed at a warehouse in the neighboring town of Chapayevsk. The facility reportedly belongs to Ozon, Russia’s main domestic e-commerce platform and the primary competitor to Wildberries, whose warehouses Ukraine has struck repeatedly in recent weeks.
The Chapayevsk strike appears to be the first instance of Ukrainian forces directly targeting an Ozon facility, extending a campaign that has already disrupted Russia’s domestic logistics and retail infrastructure.
Deep Strike Capability Demonstrated
Both targets lie roughly 900 kilometers from the front line in eastern Ukraine. Although the specific weaponry used was not immediately confirmed, Kyiv’s forces regularly deploy long-range strike drones against targets deep inside Russian territory.
The attack came just one day after President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed a successful drone strike on Russia’s Perm oil refinery, a city approximately 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine.
Russia’s oil refining sector has come under increasing pressure from Ukrainian attacks throughout 2026, with multiple major facilities damaged or temporarily shut down.
Ukraine’s military has not yet officially commented on the Samara Oblast attack. The extent of the damage remains unclear.
Sources: Kyiv Independent; Reuters; Telegram channels reporting from Samara Oblast
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