Ukrainian forces reportedly targeted Russia's second-largest oil refinery in an overnight drone attack on the city of Kirishi in the Leningrad Oblast, according to multiple Ukrainian monitoring channels on Nov. 9.
The attack triggered several large explosions at the oil facility, located approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of Ukraine, the Kyiv Independent reports, citing monitoring channels Exilenova+ and Supernova+.
NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), which uses satellite data to identify fires and thermal anomalies, detected multiple hotspots at the refinery.
Meanwhile, Aleksandr Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad Oblast, said that Russian air defenses had shot down a total of 113 Ukrainian drones over the region during the overnight attack.
The Kirishi Petroleum Organic Synthesis plant, also known as the Kinef plant, can produce 20 million metric tons of oil per year and is subject to Western sanctions against Russia enacted by Ukraine's allies, including measures imposed by the U.S. The facility produces more than 6% of Russia's total refined oil, including a wide range of petroleum products such as fuel that supports the country's armed forces.
Previously, Ukrainian drones targeted the refinery on Aug. 30.
