PERM, Russia — April 30, 2026 : Ukrainian long-range unmanned aerial vehicles targeted a major Russian oil refinery and associated energy infrastructure in the Perm region on April 30, marking the second consecutive day of strikes in an area located more than 1,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
According to Ukrainian security sources, the operation was carried out by the Alpha Special Operations Center of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), using domestically developed “Liutyi” strike drones. The primary target of the April 30 strike was the Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez oil refinery, one of the largest and most technologically advanced refining facilities in Russia.
Preliminary reports and visual evidence indicate that the refinery’s AVT-4 primary oil processing unit was directly hit. This unit plays a central role in crude oil refining, housing both atmospheric and vacuum distillation columns. Footage shared on social media showed fires erupting from these structures following the strike, effectively disrupting the refinery’s primary processing capability.
The Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez refinery has an annual processing capacity exceeding 13 million tons of crude oil. It produces a range of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, lubricants, and processed associated petroleum gas. The facility supplies fuel to Russia’s domestic market, export channels, and military logistics, making it a significant component of the country’s energy infrastructure.
Local residents reported hearing drones overhead before the outbreak of a large fire at the site. Images and videos circulated online showed flames and dense smoke rising from the refinery complex. Satellite imagery later indicated that a plume of black smoke extended over 120 kilometers from the site. Some local accounts described the presence of oil residue falling in parts of the city following the incident.
Perm Krai Governor Dmitry Makhonin confirmed that an attack had occurred on “one of the industrial sites in Perm Krai.” In official statements, he did not identify the facility but noted that workers were evacuated and no casualties were reported. Emergency response services were deployed to contain the fire.
The refinery strike followed an earlier Ukrainian drone attack conducted on April 29 against the Perm linear production and dispatch station, a key oil pumping and storage facility that supplies crude to the Lukoil refinery. The station is part of Russia’s main pipeline network and plays a central role in transporting, storing, and distributing oil across the region.
Fuel storage tanks at the pumping station were reported to still be burning on April 30, with additional fires emerging following the second day of strikes. The facility distributes oil in multiple directions, including direct supply routes to the Perm refinery.
Ukrainian officials stated that both the April 29 and April 30 operations were conducted using Liutyi drones. These long-range UAVs, developed by Antonov, are designed for deep-strike missions and have a reported operational range of up to 2,000 kilometers. The drones are capable of carrying warheads weighing between 50 and 75 kilograms.
The Perm region’s distance from the Ukrainian border underscores the extended reach of these systems and highlights the ongoing focus on targeting rear-area energy infrastructure. As of April 30, no detailed Russian assessment of the operational impact or extent of damage at either the refinery or the pumping station had been publicly released.
Ukrainian authorities described the strikes as part of a broader effort to disrupt Russian energy logistics and supply chains linked to fuel production and distribution.
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