On the night of May 29, drone attacks were reported in the Russian cities of Yaroslavl and Volgograd, prompting significant security measures. In Yaroslavl, authorities closed a major highway leading to Moscow and temporarily halted operations at the local airport.
Yaroslavl Governor Mikhail Evraev confirmed the security measures, stating that traffic was restricted on the route from Yaroslavl to Moscow, specifically at the intersection of Moskovsky Avenue and the Southwest Ring Road. The Russian aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, also announced the temporary suspension of flights at Yaroslavl Airport.
In Volgograd, a series of explosions led to a fire at the Lukoil oil refinery, one of the largest in Russia. Local residents reported multiple blasts during the night, with Volgograd Governor Andrei Bocharov indicating that one drone reportedly struck a residential building in the Krasnooktyabrsky district, although he noted that there were no casualties.
Witnesses shared footage of the extensive fire, which was confirmed by OSINT analysis from Astra to have originated at the Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka refinery. The distance from the filming location to the fire site was approximately 30 kilometers.
Astra’s analysis suggests that this incident marks at least the tenth attack on the Volgograd refinery since the onset of the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine. The Volgograd facility is a critical asset for Lukoil, processing over 15 million tons of oil annually.
Recent drone attacks in Yaroslavl and Volgograd have led to significant security responses, including highway closures and airport suspensions. The incidents highlight ongoing tensions and the impact of the conflict on key industrial sites in Russia.