loading . . . Mass drone attacks hit Russia, set Ilsky refinery ablaze and cut power in Kazan Air-raid sirens sounded in sequence across Russia’s Krasnodar region — in Sochi, Gelendzhik, Novorossiysk and Slavyansk-na-Kubani — as authorities temporarily closed five airports in Russia, including in Tatarstan.
Overnight Tuesday, February 17, multiple sites in Russia came under drone attack, including the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, where a large fire broke out after an apparent strike. The Krasnodar region’s operational headquarters, Russian social media channels and Ukrainian monitoring groups reported the incident .
Sources linked to Russian security services said the region faced a mass attack by “Liutyi” drones. Russian state and pro-Kremlin outlets claimed air defenses shot down more than 20 drones.
Residents reported a series of more than 10 explosions near the settlement of Ilsky, followed by a major blaze inside the refinery. The regional operational headquarters confirmed the attack but, as is typical, did not detail the extent of damage or destruction.
Amid the aerial threat, airports in Krasnodar, Sochi and Gelendzhik temporarily halted operations. Sirens also sounded in Novorossiysk and Slavyansk-na-Kubani.
At the same time, drone attacks were reported in Tatarstan. Around 3 a.m., explosions were heard on the outskirts of Kazan and Nizhnekamsk, after which one district of the Tatarstan capital experienced power supply problems. Residents described bright flashes in the sky and loud blasts. Airports in Kazan and Nizhnekamsk also paused operations.
Ukrainian forces hit the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region overnight into Tuesday, Ukraine’s General Staff said on February 17.
“A target hit was recorded, followed by a fire at the facility. The results are being clarified,” the statement reads.
The Ilsky Oil Refinery, owned by KNGK-INPZ LLC, is one of the most important refining facilities in Russia’s Southern Federal District, with an annual capacity exceeding 6 million tons of crude. It produces diesel, gasoline and fuel oil, which are widely supplied to Black Sea ports to support logistics for Russian forces in Ukraine. The plant has been targeted multiple times, leading to shutdowns.
Earlier, in Russia’s Vyborg, home to key Baltic Fleet infrastructure, sirens sounded on the evening of Monday, February 16, followed by power outages in parts of the city.
Crimea was rocked by numerous loud explosions, and the bridge was closed. https://www.uawire.org/mass-drone-attacks-hit-russia-set-ilsky-refinery-ablaze-and-cut-power-in-kazan
