Zelenskyy posts footage of Ukrainian drones hitting Russian refinery and aircraft at Rostov airfield

Résumé en français

Dans la nuit du 16 au 17 septembre 2026, les forces ukrainiennes ont mené des attaques de drones contre des infrastructures et des actifs militaires russes. Le président Volodymyr Zelenskyy a publié des images confirmant des frappes sur la raffinerie de pétrole de Yaroslavl ainsi que sur un aérodrome militaire à Rostov-sur-le-Don. L'opération a endommagé ou détruit plusieurs aéronefs russes, dont un avion de transport An-12, deux avions de transport An-26 et trois hélicoptères.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has released footage of Ukrainian drones striking a refinery in Russia and several aircraft at an airfield in Rostov.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter); General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "Last night, in a joint operation by the Security Service of Ukraine, the Unmanned Systems Forces, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Yaroslavl oil refinery was hit. The Security Service also carried out a precise strike on a military airfield in Rostov – the damage to an An-12, two An-26s, and three helicopters has been confirmed. There have also been good results in the Black Sea."

Details: Ukraine's General Staff later reported strikes on a Russian airfield and a refinery in Yaroslavl.

Specifically, the Rostov-on-Don (Tsentralnyi) airfield in Russia's Rostov Oblast was struck. A fire was recorded, followed by detonation at the facility. In addition, the destruction of two An-26 transport aircraft, one An-12 transport aircraft and three helicopters has been confirmed.

The Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery in Russia's Yaroslavl Oblast was also struck: a hit and fire were reported at the primary oil distillation unit.

For reference: Slavneft-YANOS is one of Russia's largest oil refining companies and is part of Slavneft PJSC. Its capacity is around 15 million tonnes of oil per year. The plant carries out a full cycle of oil refining and produces motor petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, fuel oil, bitumen and other petroleum products.

The plant supports the needs of Russia's armed forces.

Background: Drones attacked several areas in Russia on the night of 16-17 September. A military air base in Rostov-on-Don and an oil refinery in Yaroslavl may have been among the targets.

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Source : Ukrainska Pravda ([Global] military aviation) — Alona Mazurenko