A Rosneft facility is on fire: what is known about the attack in Saratov
8 July 10:47
On the night of July 8, the Russian city of Saratov came under attack by drones. According to reports from local authorities and Russian Telegram channels, explosions triggered a fire at the Saratov Oil Refinery, which is owned by Rosneft. OSINT analysts have also confirmed that the facility was hit, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
A drone alert was issued in Saratov
Ruslan Busargin, governor of the Saratov region, reported the threat of a drone attack and stated that all emergency services in the region have been placed on high alert.
“Warning systems may be activated in areas of potential threat. All emergency services have been placed on full alert,” the official noted.
Temporary restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures at Saratov Airport were also reported.
The Saratov Oil Refinery Was Hit
According to the Russian Telegram channel Astra, the Saratov Oil Refinery was struck.
OSINT researchers analyzing photos, videos, and satellite data have confirmed that the facility was struck.
As of this morning, Russian authorities have not released any official information regarding the extent of the damage.
One of Russia’s oldest oil refineries
The Saratov Oil Refinery is owned by Rosneft and is one of Russia’s oldest oil refineries.
According to publicly available data:
- the plant has been in operation for over 90 years;
- in 2023, it processed approximately 4.8 million metric tons of crude oil;
- it produces gasoline, diesel fuel, and other petroleum products.
This is not the first attack on the facility—it was previously targeted in May.
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A series of attacks on Russian oil refineries continues
The attack on the Saratov refinery occurred just a few days after the strike on the Omsk refinery—Russia’s largest refinery, which was forced to suspend operations following the attack.
Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian fuel infrastructure have recently become systematic.
According to the Financial Times, since the beginning of 2026, there have been at least 194 attacks on Russian oil refineries, which is 11 times more than during the same period last year.
Oil refineries are a vital component of the Russian economy and ensure the production of gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and lubricants.
Systematic strikes on fuel infrastructure complicate logistics for the Russian military, reduce revenue from petroleum products, and place additional pressure on the Russian economy.
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