Home · World · May 15 archive
Ukrainian drones hit Ryazan oil refinery after deadly Kyiv strikes
Confirmed
What we know
Ukraine launched a large-scale overnight drone barrage on Friday that struck the Rosneft-operated Ryazan oil refinery southeast of Moscow, igniting a major fire at one of Russia's largest fuel plants, Ukraine's General Staff and Western outlets reported.
The attack followed three days of heavy Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, including a Kyiv apartment hit that killed 24 people. Ryazan Gov. Pavel Malkov said four people, including a child, were killed and dozens injured when debris struck residential buildings; Ukraine said the refinery — which processes about 17 million tons of oil a year and produces jet fuel used by Russian forces — was the intended target. Russia's Defense Ministry said it intercepted hundreds of drones overnight in one of the largest Ukrainian air attacks of the year.
What's confirmed
- Guardian: Ukraine mounted a large-scale long-range drone attack including the Ryazan refinery after multi-day Russian barrages that killed 24 in Kyiv (Guardian).
- AP: Russia reported a Ukrainian attack on Ryazan that killed four, including a child, with massive smoke from a refinery fire; Moscow claimed 355 drones downed overnight (AP).
- BBC: Governor said four died including a child; Ukraine's drone commander said forces hit the Ryazan refinery (BBC).
- RFE/RL: Eyewitness video showed a drone striking an apartment block; officials linked the civilian toll to the wider strike on the oil facility (RFE/RL).
- Kyiv Independent: Ukrainian Special Operations Forces and Unmanned Systems Forces confirmed a joint strike on the Ryazan complex (Kyiv Independent).
What's still developing
- Full damage assessment at the Ryazan plant and how long production stays offline.
- Whether Zelenskyy’s pledged further long-range retaliation expands beyond energy targets.
- Russian response strikes and any shift in Moscow's air-defense posture around capital-region infrastructure.
Sources
- The Guardian — Ukraine attacks Russia with drones after suffering three days of massive strikes link
- AP — Death toll in attack on an apartment building in Ukraine's capital rises to 24 link
- BBC — Prisoner swap goes ahead as Kyiv mourns 24 killed in Russian strike on flats link
- RFE/RL — Ukrainian drones strike oil facility, apartment block in Ryazan, Russia link
- Kyiv Independent — Massive fire erupts at Russia's Ryazan oil refinery as Ukrainian drone blitz hits multiple targets link