05/20/2026
On the morning of May 20, explosions were heard in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia. After them, Russians saw smoke.
Local residents claim that a local oil refinery has been attacked, according to the Telegram channel Exilenova+.
What is known
Exilenova+ published footage from Kstovo. It shows smoke rising on the horizon: it is observed by Russians after the morning explosions.
“Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod region, locals report an attack on the refinery,” Exilenova+ noted.
The channel later stated: “There is contact on the ground,” showing footage showing a fire at the impact site.
“The refinery is on fire,” Exilenova+ stated at 07:01.
The Lukoil-Nizhegorodnaftoorgsintez refinery is one of the largest oil refineries in the Russian Federation. It is capable of processing up to 17 million tons of oil per year. This makes it the fourth largest refinery in Russia and the second largest among the refineries owned by Lukoil.
The enterprise provided about 10–11% of all automobile gasoline production in Russia. The refinery also covered about 30% of the fuel needs of Moscow and the Moscow region.
But most importantly, the plant produces gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel to meet the needs of the Russian occupation forces. And it was precisely because of the beginning of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that the facility became a strategic target – due to its critical role in the economy and supplying the army.
It has flown to the Kstovo refinery more than once. Some strikes have been quite successful. For example, as a result of the attack on October 16, 2025, the L-24/300 unit was hit there. It hydrotreats 24 tons of raw material per hour, correspondingly up to 300 thousand tons per year.
And after the strike on April 5 of this year, the plant suspended operations until at least the end of the month.
The last time the Kstovo refinery was attacked was on May 8, when a fire was recorded on the territory of the enterprise.
As OBOZ.UA reported, on May 17, the Defense Forces conducted the largest UAV attack on Moscow and the region. Many targets were hit, including the Moscow Oil Refinery.
Two days later, it became known that the Moscow refinery had stopped operations after the attack. Allegedly, not because of the destruction, but for security reasons.
Cool how that one drone is heading down towards what looks like a complex structure of the refinery.
Even after the massive attack on moscovia the other day, Ukraine has drones to attack the mafia state almost every day.