A state of emergency has been declared in Ryazan, Russia, following a drone attack on May 15 that resulted in casualties and property damage. The regional government announced the decision in light of the loss of life and injuries sustained, as well as partial damage to residential and other buildings.
According to local authorities, 99 Ukrainian drones targeted the Ryazan region during the night of May 15. Reports indicate that four individuals lost their lives and 28 others were injured in the incident. The attack also led to a fire at the Ryazan Oil Refinery, which was later confirmed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Pavel Malkov, the governor of Ryazan, reported that two multi-story residential buildings were damaged, and debris from the drones fell onto the premises of an industrial facility. Satellite imagery released by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty showed damage to a pipeline between the storage area and one of the refinery’s workshops, with visible flames at the site.
The Ryazan Oil Refinery, part of the Rosneft group, has an annual processing capacity of approximately 17 million tons of oil. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, various locations within Russia have experienced aerial strikes, with oil refineries being frequent targets in 2024 and 2025. Additionally, Russian facilities in occupied territories of Ukraine have also come under attack.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed most of these strikes, stating that Ukraine’s Defense Forces are systematically implementing measures aimed at reducing the combat capabilities of Russian occupying forces and compelling Russia to cease its armed aggression against Ukraine.
A state of emergency has been declared in Ryazan, Russia, following a drone attack that resulted in fatalities and damage to infrastructure. The incident highlights ongoing military tensions and the targeting of strategic facilities within Russia.