[Discussion] Ukraine Strikes Russian Refineries as Russia Hits Ukrainian Steel Plants

Ukrainian Strikes Target Russian Refineries

Ukrainian forces struck two major Russian oil refineries and a facility used to launch attack drones on Sept. 13, Ukraine’s General Staff reported.

The attacks targeted the Slavyansky refinery in Sloviansk-on-Kuban, Krasnodar Krai, and the TANECO refinery in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan. Fires were reported at both sites. Russian regional authorities said two people were killed and 12 injured in the TANECO strike.

Ukraine’s General Staff also reported a strike on a facility in Millerovo, Rostov Oblast, used to store, prepare and launch Russian attack drones.

Refinery Capacity and Local Disruption

The Slavyansky refinery, operated by Sloviansk ECO LLC, can process about 5.2 million metric tons of crude oil annually. It produces gasoline, fuel oil, vacuum gas oil, jet fuel and other petroleum products. The General Staff said it supplies the Russian Armed Forces.

Krasnodar Krai authorities said falling drone debris damaged a gas pipeline in a residential area of Sloviansk-on-Kuban.

TANECO is operated by Tatneft and processes more than 16 million metric tons of oil annually. Tatarstan authorities said the refinery processed 16.2 million metric tons in 2022. Its products include gasoline, diesel, aviation kerosene and marine fuel.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed air defenses intercepted and destroyed 389 Ukrainian drones overnight. The claim could not be independently verified. Aviation authorities temporarily restricted flights at airports in Nizhnekamsk, Kazan and Bugulma over safety concerns.

Russian Missiles Hit Ukrainian Steel Plants

Separately, Russian missile strikes hit two major Ukrainian metallurgical plants overnight on Sept. 12, killing two people and injuring six, according to plant operators.

Four ballistic missiles struck the Zaporizhstal steel plant in Zaporizhzhia, injuring four employees and causing what operator Metinvest described as critical damage. Equipment in the blast-furnace and open-hearth shops was damaged, along with energy systems, internal networks and logistics infrastructure.

One injured worker was treated at the plant and declined hospitalization. Three others were hospitalized with moderate injuries. Zaporizhstal had not resumed production after earlier ballistic missile attacks on Aug. 11 and Aug. 27.

“Zaporizhstal produced pig iron and steel for civilian needs,” Metinvest Chief Operating Officer Oleksandr Myronenko said, adding that the facility did not manufacture military products or host anything that would make it a military target. Metinvest said the full extent of the latest damage had not yet been established.

Fatal Strike in Kryvyi Rih

A Russian missile also hit the ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih steel plant in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Two employees of contractor companies were killed and two plant workers were injured, the company said.

Production and auxiliary facilities were damaged, while search-and-rescue operations continued. Specialists were assessing the destruction and possible recovery timelines. The company described the site as a civilian mining and metallurgical enterprise.

The plant has been struck repeatedly during the war. An attack in December 2022 killed one employee and destroyed a rolling mill. Another in August 2026 killed two plant employees and one contractor, injured 18 people, damaged key energy and blast-furnace facilities, and partially halted production.

Broader Overnight Attacks

The strikes on Zaporizhstal and ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih formed part of a broader Russian missile and drone attack across Ukraine overnight on Sept. 12. At least 11 people were killed and 96 injured.

Odesa Oblast was the main target, while deadly attacks were also reported in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.

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