Fire at the oil refinery in Saratov following drone attack
A drone strike has caused significant damage to an oil refinery in Saratov and a military airbase in Engels, resulting in civilian casualties. According to local reports, two fatalities have been confirmed following the attack.
Emergency services are currently on the scene assessing the damage, which reportedly includes destruction to civilian infrastructure in both cities. Monitoring group Exilenova+ highlighted that the Engels military airbase is known for launching attacks on Ukraine.
Further details from the Falcon Insight channel indicate that multiple installations at the oil refinery, including the catalytic reforming unit and a pentane-hexane isomerization unit, may have been damaged. One source of the fire could be attributed to a flare system burning.
Russian media outlet Astra reported that this marks at least the 15th drone attack on the Saratov refinery since the beginning of the conflict. The Saratov Oil Refinery, operated by Rosneft, is one of Russia’s oldest refineries with an annual capacity of 4.8 million tons as of 2023.
In Engels, footage shared by local residents appears to show the moment of the explosion at the airbase, while the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
Social media commentary includes reactions from bystanders, with one noting the intensity of the drone’s flight and the resulting shockwaves affecting nearby windows.
