Major Fire at Russia’s Lukoil Refinery After Drone Attack in Kstovo

A major fire was reported at Russia’s Lukoil Kstovo refinery after an overnight drone attack. Authorities confirmed significant industrial damage.

KSTOVO, RUSSIA | November 2, 2026

A major fire was reported at the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery in Kstovo, in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region, following a large overnight drone attack on Sunday, November 1.

The incident reportedly caused significant damage to an industrial facility in the Kstovo district. Images and videos circulating on Telegram channels appeared to show large flames and thick smoke rising from the industrial area.

The refinery is one of Russia’s major oil-processing facilities and is also known as the NORSI refinery.

Russian authorities report significant industrial damage

Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin confirmed that an industrial enterprise in the Kstovo district had sustained significant damage during what he described as a massive drone attack.

According to his preliminary statement, more than 100 drones were destroyed during the overnight incident, and no casualties had been reported at that stage.

However, the governor did not publicly identify the damaged industrial facility as the Lukoil refinery. Ukrainian media outlets and independent monitoring channels subsequently identified the refinery as a reported target. The precise extent of the damage has not been independently established.

One of Russia’s major oil refineries

The Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez complex has an annual crude-oil processing capacity of approximately 17 million metric tonnes, equivalent to roughly 340,000 barrels per day.

The facility produces a range of petroleum products, including:

• Petrol and automotive fuels

• Diesel

• Aviation fuel and kerosene

• Fuel oil

• Bitumen and lubricants

• Other petroleum products

Its production capacity makes it an important part of Russia’s domestic fuel-processing network. Reports have also described its role in supplying fuel used by Russian military and industrial sectors.

Possible impact on industrial and energy operations

Reports from Ukrainian media and monitoring channels indicated that fires may have affected multiple areas of the refinery. Some reports also raised the possibility that the neighbouring Novogorkovskaya combined heat and power plant was targeted.

Regional authorities warned that restoration work following the attack could lead to temporary electricity interruptions and reduced hot-water and heating supplies in parts of the local residential network.

The reported damage to individual refinery processing units and the neighbouring power facility remains subject to further confirmation.

Strategic significance

Oil refineries are important infrastructure during the Russia-Ukraine war because they support domestic fuel distribution, industrial activity and military logistics.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian energy infrastructure during the conflict, while Russia has conducted strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities. Attacks on major refining complexes can raise concerns about fuel production, regional supply chains and the resilience of energy infrastructure.

As of the latest reports available for this article, the full operational impact of the Kstovo incident had not been officially established.

News National will update this report as more verified information becomes available.

By News National Editorial Team

Source transparency

This report draws on statements attributed to the Nizhny Novgorod regional governor and reporting by RFE/RL, Euronews, Ukrinform and other news organisations. The refinery's identification as a target is based on media and monitoring-channel reports; the Russian governor's statement referred to an industrial facility without naming the refinery.

Sources:

• RFE/RL – Moscow reports drone attack on Nizhny Novgorod

• Euronews – Russia reports major drone attack

• Ukrinform – Drones attack Lukoil refinery in Russia

• The Kyiv Independent – Kstovo refinery reported ablaze