Ukrainian Drone Strike on Volgograd Industrial Zone Kills Four, Governor Says

Russian regional governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed on Friday (November 13) that a Ukrainian drone attack overnight on the industrial zone of Volgograd killed four people and injured two, the deadliest drone attack on the city so far. The strike came in the late hours of November 12 into the early hours of November 13, and videos circulating online showed a large fire at a local oil refinery, though officials have not confirmed the refinery was hit. (Photo: a refinery fire at night, file photo.)

Governor: industrial zone hit, four dead and two injured

According to Reuters, Bocharov said the attack targeted the industrial zone in the south of the city, killing four people and injuring two, and called it the deadliest attack on the city to date. Volgograd, known as Stalingrad during World War Two, is home to a large Lukoil oil refinery and many other industrial facilities.

Refinery fire reported; no official confirmation the facility was hit

Unverified video posted on social media purported to show a large fire at the Lukoil refinery, with thick smoke rising, and residents reported hearing loud explosions overnight. Reuters noted there was no official confirmation that the refinery had been attacked, and Lukoil did not reply to a request for comment. The Kyiv Post described the operation as a large-scale overnight drone attack involving nearly 1,200 drones, saying the refinery caught fire and four workers died; that account has not been independently confirmed.

Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian refineries

Reuters reported that Ukraine has sharply stepped up its attacks on Russian oil refineries since the end of October, when an energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump failed to take hold; the Volgograd refinery has been attacked several times before, including on May 29 and July 31. Videos circulating online also suggested Rostov-on-Don was targeted the same night, with a production plant and a warehouse burning and drone debris damaging a residential building; that too remains unconfirmed by officials. This is a developing story; casualty figures are subject to official updates. (Sources: Reuters; Kyiv Post; social media video reports.)