Ukrainian drones struck several Russian sites in a series of attacks on the night of February 16 to 17, sparking large-scale fires and even the temporary closures of some airports. Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, southern Russia, which supplies fuel to Russian troops, was one of the targets, resulting in a massive fire, according to local authorities, Telegram channels and monitoring groups.
According to Ukraine‘s General Staff, the refinery processes 6.42 million tons of oil annually and, due to its proximity to Black Sea ports, its products are widely used to support Russian military logistics. During the overnight attack, Russian propagandists claimed that air defence systems had downed more than 20 drones over the region. Local residents, meanwhile, reported hearing more than 10 explosions near the village of Ilsky, after which a large-scale fire broke out at the local refinery.
Krasnodar Krai Operational Headquarters confirmed the attack on the refinery in the morning: « A fire broke out at the Ilsky oil refinery as a result of the UAV attack. There were no casualties. A tank containing petroleum products was damaged. The total area of the fire is about 700 sqm [7,535sq ft] ».
It noted that 72 firefighters, 21 fire appliances and a fire train had been involved in tackling the blaze. Meanwhile, due to aerial threats, airports in Krasnodar, Sochi and Gelendzhik suspended operations for at least four hours, while an air-raid warning was also issued in Novorossiysk and Slavyansk-on-Kuban.
In a separate strike, drones attacked the Republic of Tatarstan, with explosions heard on the outskirts of Kazan and in Nizhnekamsk at around 3am local time. Eyewitnesses reported bright flashes in the sky and the sound of blasts, after which the electricity supply was cut in one district of Kazan. Airports in Kazan and Nizhnekamsk also temporarily suspended arrivals and departures.
Kazan is located roughly 620 from the Russia‑Ukraine border and the active frontline. Situated east of Moscow, this deep-Russian city has been targeted by long-range Ukrainian drone attacks.
The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are widely seen as the most likely targets if Moscow were to ever decide to launch an attack on NATO. Secretary General Mark Rutte in December warned Russia could attack a NATO member within the next five years.
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