Kiev, 26 March 2026 (dpa/MIA) – Ukraine has targetted the Kirishi oil refinery near St Petersburg using combat drones, as part of a series of strikes on Russia's Baltic Sea oil infrastructure, authorities said on Thursday.

Regional Governor Aleksander Drozdenko wrote on Telegram that there had been damage in an industrial area of Kirishi. Twenty-one enemy aerial objects were reportedly shot down over the area, he said.

Telegram channels reported, citing local residents, that there were fires at the refinery. According to industry sources, Kirishi is the second-largest refinery in Russia and can process 20 million tons of oil annually.

A three-pronged attack

Ukrainska Pravda reported Thursday that the refinery suspended operations after several units caught fire in the drone attack. Moscow has not confirmed the report.

The Ukrainian military reported a three-pronged strike against the oil industry in north-western Russia. First, on Monday, oil tanks and loading facilities at the port of Primorsk on the Gulf of Finland were set alight.

This was followed on Wednesday by an attack on the port of Ust-Luga, which is important for the export of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The third step was the attack on Kirishi, the military wrote on X. The aim was to halt Russian oil exports via the Baltic Sea and cut the Kremlin off from a key source of funding for its war against Ukraine.

As the US has eased sanctions against Moscow due to the war in Iran, Russia's revenue opportunities are currently increasing.

Columns of black smoke stretching for miles

Following the attacks, fires and columns of smoke stretching for kilometres were observed. However, there is no confirmed information regarding damage to the facilities.

In Primorsk, the fire in the oil tanks was successfully contained after three days, Governor Drozdenko said on Thursday. There is no longer any danger of the fire spreading, he added.

Zelensky in Saudi Arabia for talks

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks against the backdrop of the war in Iran.

"We appreciate the support and support those who are ready to work with us to ensure security," Zelensky wrote in a post on X. Footage released after his arrival showed Zelensky accompanied by his Security Council chief Rustem Umerov.

Since the outbreak of the Iran war nearly a month ago, Kiev has offered its assistance to Middle Eastern countries facing threats from Iranian drones.

Zelensky has repeatedly suggested the possibility of exchanging Ukrainian interceptor drones for anti-aircraft missiles for Patriot systems held by Gulf states.

Ukraine reportedly produces more interceptor drones than it needs and could expand production for export with additional funding.
Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's invasion for more than four years, during which Moscow has deployed large numbers of Iranian-made combat drones.

Zelensky said several hundred Ukrainian drone experts are already stationed in the Gulf monarchies and Jordan.

Photo: epa file photo