A massive fire broke out overnight at the NORSI oil refinery in Kstovo, located in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region, following reports of a drone strike. Local residents reported air raid alerts and drone activity in the skies before flames were seen rising from the facility, which is owned by the Russian energy giant Lukoil.
The refinery ranks as Russia's fourth-largest oil processing plant and second-largest gasoline producer, with an annual capacity of 15 to 17 million metric tons of crude oil. It also produces bitumen, diesel fuel, and aviation fuel used by Russian military forces.
The city of Kstovo is situated approximately 500 miles from the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted the facility throughout 2024, including strikes on April 5, May 20, June 24, and July 2, some of which temporarily shut down production units.
The campaign is part of Ukraine's broader strategy of disrupting Russian energy infrastructure that finances and fuels Moscow's war effort.
